Viola Sp. - Violet

Family: Violaceae - Violet [E-flora]

"Leaf: generally deciduous. Flower: sepals ± equal, entire; petals unequal, lowest generally largest, with spur generally < 3 [20] mm, lateral 2 equal, generally spreading, upper 2 equal, erect or reflexed, overlapped or not, lateral 2 generally, others sometimes with beard of variously shaped hairs basally; cleistogamous flowers generally present, petals 0. Fruit: ovoid to oblong, hairy or not. Seed: 8–75.
± 500 species: temperate, worldwide, Hawaii, Andes. (Latin: classical name) Important orns including Viola odorata, Viola tricolor L. (Johnny-jump-up, wild pansy), Viola ×wittrockiana Gams (garden pansy)." [Jepson]

Local Species;

  1. Viola adunca var adunca - early blue violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  2. Viola arvensis - European field pansy [E-flora]
  3. Viola biflora ssp carlottae - Queen Charlotte twinflower violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  4. Viola canadensis - Canada violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  5. Viola glabella - stream violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  6. Viola howellii - Howell's violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  7. Viola langsdorfii - Alaska violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  8. Viola macloskeyi - small white violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  9. Viola odorata - sweet violet [E-flora]
  10. Viola orbiculata - round-leaved violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  11. Viola palustris var palustris - marsh violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  12. Viola praemorsa - Yellow Montane Violet [PCBC][E-flora]
  13. Viola sempervirens - evergreen violet [PCBC][E-flora]

Species Mentioned

Hazards

"According to Lewis and Elvin-Lewis in Mediral Botany, the rhizomes and seeds of the scented violet (V. odorata) can be harmful if eaten; therefore do not eat the seeds, fruits, or rhizomes of any violets." [WGV Canada]

Yellow Flowers: "Note that eating flower buds or flowers of species with yellow flowers can apparently cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities. Reports of the roots being eaten should be treated with scepticism as many are know to be emetic." [ARA V.17.2] "There are also violet species with white and yellow flowers. A void the yellow ones, which are usually too rare to pick, and may be cathartic." [Wildman] "The ones with blue or white flowers are generally considered to be edible, while those with yellow flowers are said to be inedible or cathartic." [Tozer UWP] "Whereas many writers indicated all violets are safe for consumption, others insist some yellow-flowered species may be somewhat purgative. All violets do have a tendency to be somewhat laxative, so proceed slowly until you become familiar with your particular reactions." [Schofield]

Edible Uses

"Apparently all species of violets are edible, even the garden varieties. We have tried about ten native species and found them all good, with no objectionable flavor or harsh bitterness in any of them....The young leaves and flower buds are used raw." [Harrington]

Other Uses

"Violets are emollient (softening to the skin) and an excellent ingredient in lotions and night creams. The flowers, steeped in goat's milk, are an old Celtic beauty treatment. Violet water (see Rose section for directions on making floral waters) is gentle enough for bathing babies, and is wonderful for the adult complexion as well." [Schofield]

Medicinal Uses

"Violet leaves contain varying amounts of saponin. Medicinally, they are diuretic, expectorant, alterative, and mildly laxative. The yellow violets are more laxative than others. Violets are sometimes used in cancer cases as "blood purifiers" to aid the liver in eliminating waste from the blood, so there is no junk to feed to cancer cells (Willard). Violets can also be used externally as a poultice on cancer (Kloss). Violets are mildly astringent, as well as mucilaginous, and thus useful for treating ulcers (Kloss). The roots of some species contain saponins and alkaloids useful for expec- torant and emetic properties (Zomlefer)." [Wildman]

References

Viola adunca var adunca - early blue violet

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

"Viola adunca is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.1 m (0ft 4in). It is hardy to zone (UK) 4. It is in flower from April to May. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects, Cleistogomy (self-pollinating without flowers ever opening).
The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]

"General: Perennial herb from a rhizome, without stolons; stems lacking in spring but developing aerial stems as the season progresses, ascending, usually hairy, 2-10 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Dry to moist open woods, meadows, and roadsides; common throughout BC in all vegetation zones; N to S AK, YT and NT, E to PQ and NS and S to ME, NY, MI, MN, IO, SD, NM, UT, NV and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Ecological Indicator Information A shade-intolerant, submontane to alpine, transcontinental North American forb. Occurs on very dry to moderately dry, nitrogen-medium soils within boreal, temperate, and mesothermal climates; its occurrence decreases with elevation and precipitation." (Information applies to coastal locations only) [IPBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

Cultivation & Propagation

"Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5[200]. All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[62, 85, 159]. There is at least one named form selected for its ornamental value[200]. 'Alba' has white flowers[200]. Flowers formed late in the season are cleistogamous (lacking petals, the flowers do not open but are self-pollinated)[212]." [PFAF]

"Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring." [PFAF]

References

Viola arvensis - European field pansy

"General: Annual herb from a taproot, without stolons; stems erect to prostrate, 5-35 cm tall/long." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Mesic to dry waste places and roadsides in the lowland zone; infrequent in S BC; introduced from Europe." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Exotic [E-flora]

Synonyms: Viola tricolor var. arvensis (Murray) Boiss. [E-flora]

References

Viola biflora ssp carlottae - Queen Charlotte twinflower violet

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

"Viola biflora is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.2 m (0ft 8in) by 0.2 m (0ft 8in). It is in flower from May to June, and the seeds ripen from July to October. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects, Cleistogomy (self-pollinating without flowers ever opening).
The plant is self-fertile. Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland). It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]

"General: Perennial herb from a rhizome and fibrous roots, without stolons; stems ascending to erect, smooth, leafless except on the uppermost section, 5-20 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Notes: Hybridizes with V. glabella. The other subspecies, ssp. biflora, is widely distributed in Eurasia and also occurs in AK, YT and CO." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Moist rock outcrops and meadows in the montane to alpine zones; frequent on the Queen Charlotte Islands, rare on NW Vancouver Island; N to SE AK." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

References

Viola canadensis - Canada violet

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

"Viola canadensis is a PERENNIAL growing to 0.4 m (1ft 4in) by 0.3 m (1ft). It is hardy to zone (UK) 4. It is in flower from April to July. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects.
Suitable for: light (sandy), medium (loamy) and heavy (clay) soils and prefers well-drained soil. Suitable pH: acid and neutral soils. It can grow in semi-shade (light woodland) or no shade. It prefers moist soil." [PFAF]

"General: Perennial herb from a rhizome, usually with stolons; stems erect, smooth to hairy, 10-40 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Moist to dry woodlands, open forests and meadows in the lowland and montane zones; common throughout BC, except absent in extreme NW BC; N to AK, YT and NT, E to PQ and S to IL, IO, NE, NM, AZ, ID and OR." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

Cultivation & Propagation

"Easily grown in any fertile soil in full sun or partial shade[233]. Prefers a cool position[233] in a moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5. Hardy to about -25°c[187]. All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[62, 85, 159]. This species has mainly white flowers that are at first yellowish at the base then turn violet[222]. There are some named varieties selected for their ornamental value[200]. For polyculture design as well as the above-ground architecture (form - tree, shrub etc. and size shown above) information on the habit and root pattern is also useful and given here if available. The plant growth habit is a runner spreading indefinitely by rhizomes or stolons [1-2]. The root pattern is rhizomatous with underground stems sending roots and shoots along their length [1-2]." [PFAF]

"Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring." [PFAF]

References

Viola glabella - stream violet

"General: Perennial herb from a scaly, fleshy rhizome, without stolons; ascending to erect, smooth, 5-30 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Notes: Hybridizes with V. biflora ssp. carlottae on the Queen Charlotte Islands." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Mesic to moist streambanks, woodlands and forests in the lowland to alpine zones; frequent in BC south of 56degreeN; N to S AK, E to AB and S to MT, ID and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]

Ecological Indicator Information: "A shade-tolerant to very shade-intolerant, submontane to subalpine, Western North American herb distributed equally in the Pacific and Cordilleran regions. Occurs on very moist to wet, nitrogen-rich soils (Moder and Mull humus forms) within boreal, temperate, and cool mesothermal climates; its occurrence increases with increasing latitude and precipitation. Common in non-forested communities and open-canopy forests on water-receiving (flood-plains and stream-edge) sites. Usually associated with Athyrium filix-femina, Cornus sericea, Lysichitum americanum, Rubus spectabilis, and Tiarella trifoliata. A nitrophytic species characteristic of flooded sites." (Information applies to coastal locations only) [IPBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

References

Viola howellii - Howell's violet

Red-listed taxon in B.C. [E-flora]

"General: Perennial herb from a scaly, thick rhizome, without stolons; stems erect, sparsely hairy, 2-10 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Mesic to moist woodlands and forests in the lowland zone; rare on S Vancouver Island and the lower Fraser Valley; S to OR." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

References

Viola langsdorfii - Alaska violet

"General: Perennial herb from a rhizome, without stolons; stems erect, smooth or sometimes sparsely hairy, 2-15 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Bogs, fens and mesic to moist, meadows, streambanks and scree slopes in the lowland to alpine zones; frequent in W BC, rare in EC BC; amphiberingian, N to AK and S to OR; NE Asia." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

References

Viola macloskeyi - small white violet

"General: Perennial from a rhizome, with stolons, plants 3-6 cm tall; stems lacking." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Moist to wet streambanks, seepage sites, bogs and woodlands in the lowland and montane zone; frequent throughout BC, absent in NE BC and the Queen Charlotte Islands; N to NT, E to Labr. and NF and S to ME, NH, PA, GA, AL, MS, CO, UT, NV and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

Synonyms and Alternate Names

References

Viola odorata - Sweet violet

"General: Perennial herb from a rhizome, with stolons, plants up to 15 cm tall; stems lacking." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Mesic to dry roadsides and waste places in the lowland zone; infrequent on SE Vancouver Island, Galiano Island and the Vancouver area; introduced from Europe." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Exotic [E-flora]

Other Use

Medicinal Use

References

Viola orbiculata - round-leaved violet

"General: Perennial from a scaly rhizome, without stolons; stems erect, smooth, 3-5 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Mesic to moist meadows and forests the montane to alpine zones; frequent in BC south of 56degreeN, absent in the Queen Charlotte Islands; E to AB, and S to WY, ID and OR." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Ecological Indicator Information A shade- tolerant/intolerant, montane to alpine, Western North American forb distributed equally in the Pacific and Cordilleran regions. Occurs on moderately dry to fresh, nitrogen-medium soils within boreal, wet cool temperate, and cool mesothermal climates; its occurrence decreases with increasing latitude. Common in mossy understories on water-shedding sites; occasionally persist on cutover areas." (Information applies to coastal locations only) [IPBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

Synonyms

References

Viola palustris var palustris - marsh violet

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

" General: Perennial herb from a rhizome, with stolons, plants 5-20 cm tall; stems lacking." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Moist to wet streambanks, meadows, swamps, fens and woodlands from the lowland to subalpine zones; common throughout BC except the extreme NE; N to NT, E to NF and S to ME, NY, SD, WY, UT, NV and CA." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Ecological Indicator Information A shade-intolerant, submontane to subalpine, circumpolar forb (transcontinental in North America). Occurs on wet to very wet soils within boreal, wet temperate, and cool mesothermal climates. Scattered in non-forested, semi-terrestrial communities and open-canopy forests on water-collecting sites (organic soils). Characteristic of wetlands." (Information applies to coastal locations only)[IPBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

References

Viola praemorsa - Yellow Montane Violet

SUBTAXA PRESENT IN BC

"General: Perennial herb from a fibrous root, without stolons; stems erect, sparsely to densely hairy, largely underground but the aerial stems 6-30 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Notes: The ssp. linguaefolia (Nutt. ex T.& G.) Baker & Clausen ex Peck may occur in the Rocky Mountains of extreme SE BC. This subspecies can be distinguished from ssp. praemorsa by its longer, narrower stem leaves and the wedge-shaped leaf base." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Dry grassy slopes and oak woodlands in the lowland zone; rare on SE Vancouver Island and adjacent islands; S to CA." [IFBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

References

Viola sempervirens - evergreen violet

"General: Perennial herb from a scaly rootstalk, with stolons; stems erect, finely hairy, 2-10 cm tall." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Habitat / Range Moist woodlands and forests in the lowland and montane zones; frequent in SW BC, rare in SE BC (Kootenay Lake); N to SE AK and S to CA." [IFBC-E-flora]

"Ecological Indicator Information A shade- tolerant/intolerant, submontane to montane, Western North American forb distributed more in the Pacific than the Cordilleran region. Occurs in maritime to submaritime cool mesothermal climates on moderately dry to fresh, nitrogen-medium soils; its occurrence decreases with increasing latitude and continentality. Common in mossy understories on water-shedding sites; occasionally persist on cutover areas." (Information applies to coastal locations only) [IPBC-E-flora]

Status: Native [E-flora]

Synonyms and Alternate Names

References