Viola trinervata
Viola odorata
3-nerve violet, desert pansy, Rainier or sagebrush or three-nerve violet, Rainier violet, sagebrush violet, three-nerve violet
English violet, garden violet, sweet blue violet, sweet violet, violette odorante
1–4, decumbent, ascending, or erect, ca. 1/2 subterranean, glabrous, from single, vertical, deep-seated caudex.
basal and cauline;
basal: 1–7, palmately compound, leaflets 3–5;
stipules adnate to petiole, forming 2 linear-lanceolate wings, unlobed, margins entire, apex of each wing free, acute;
petiole 4.5–15 cm, glabrous;
blade reniform or ovate to ± orbiculate, 2–5 × 2.5–5 cm, coriaceous, base tapered, leaflets cleft or dissected into 2–3 elliptic, lanceolate, or oblanceolate lobes 2–7 mm wide, margins usually entire, eciliate, apex acute, mucronulate, surfaces glabrous (± glaucous), abaxial surface usually with prominent vein parallel to each margin;
cauline similar to basal except: stipules lanceolate;
petiole 1–5.5 cm;
blade 1–3 × 2–4.5 cm.
basal (and from stolons), 5–10, ascending to erect;
stipules lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, margins fimbriate, projections gland-tipped, apex acute;
petiole 2–17 cm, puberulent;
blade unlobed, ovate to orbiculate, 1.5–7 × 1.5–5 cm, base cordate, margins crenate, ciliate, apex obtuse to rounded, surfaces puberulent.
1.1–7 cm, glabrous.
4–15 cm, puberulent.
sepals lanceolate, margins eciliate, auricles 0–1 mm;
petals: upper 2 often overlapping, dark reddish violet on both surfaces, lower 3 lilac, rarely white, lateral 2 bearded, with yellow patch basally and reddish violet patch distal to yellow patch, lowest 9–15 mm with yellow patch, dark reddish violet-veined, spur yellow, gibbous, 0.6–1.5 mm;
style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers absent.
sepals narrow to broadly lanceolate, margins ciliate, auricles 3–4 mm;
petals deep to pale blue-violet, pale blue, or white on both surfaces, usually white basally, lateral 2 sparsely to densely bearded, lowest usually purple-veined, 12–22 mm, spur usually same color as petals, elongated, 5–7 mm;
style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers on prostrate or ascending peduncles.
ovoid, 7–12 mm, glabrous.
sometimes purple-flecked, ovoid, 5–8 mm, puberulent.
tan, 3.2–4.5 mm.
brown, 3–4 mm.
= 20.
Viola trinervata
Viola odorata
In some populations of Viola trinervata the lower three petals are white with a yellow area proximally (V. B. Baird 1942).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
Viola odorata occurs in small colonies; individual plants are interconnected by stolons.
The flowers of Viola odorata are noted for their fragrance; some plants are more fragrant than others. It is native to Eurasia and assumed to be introduced in North America where it is usually found in areas associated with human habitation, including parks, lawns, and roadsides. A substantial industry revolved around the commercial production of violets in England, France, and the United States from prior to 1895 and into the 1900s (R. E. Coombs 2003). Viola odorata is sometimes found in remote locations not easily explained by anthropogenic influence, for example, Clearwater Mountains, Idaho. It is available through the nursery trade and is cultivated as a garden plant and occasionally reported as an escape. Viola odorata is grown in southern France for essential oils used in perfumes, flavorings, and toiletries, and also for the production of the sweet, violet-colored liqueur called parfait amour (V. H. Heywood 1978).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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