Violaceae: Violet Family. Identify plants and flowers.

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Violaceae: Violet Family Plant Identication Characteristics.

Violaceae
Plants of the Violet Family

Violets have a distinctive, slightly irregular flower. The pansy and Johnny-jump-ups are members of the Viola genus; if you have seen them, then you will recognize other flowers of this group.

Botanically, the violets are perennial plants with simple leaves, either alternate or basal. The nodding flowers have 5 sepals and 5 petals, with the lower petal being larger than the side and top petal pairs. The 5 stamens alternate with the petals. The ovary is positioned superior and consists of 3 united carpels (syncarpous) forming a single chamber. It matures as an explosive 3-valved capsule. Worldwide, there are 16 genera and 850 species. Note that the African violet is not a member of this family. It belongs to the family Gesneriaceae.

Key Words: Slightly irregular pansy-like flowers.

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Viola nuttallii. Nuttall's violet.	Viola praemorsa. Yellow Violet.
Viola adunca. Hookspur Violet.	Viola adunca. Hookspur Violet.
Viola canadensis. Canadian white violet.	Viola macloskeyi. Small White Violet.
Foraging the Mountain West	Viola odorata. Sweet Violet. Native to Eurasia, but introduced to North America.
Viola trinervata. Sagebrush Violet. Native to Washington and Oregon	Viola trinervata. Sagebrush Violet. Photographed in Washington state.