Viola odorata

L. (1753)

This name is accepted

Kingdom: Viridiplantae Phylum: Magnoliophyta Class/Clade: Eudicot-Rosids Order: Malpighiales Family: Violaceae Genus: Viola

sweet violet

Description

Key Characters:

Growth Form: Rooted rosettes often develop into erect, rhizomatous caudex from which new stolons are produced; rhizome thick, fleshy.

Stems: Rhizomes 0.5–2" long, knobby, not or only weakly producing stolons, stolons green, often rooting at nodes.

Roots:

Leaves: Leaves simple. Alternate. Blades broadly ovate–cordate, 3.0–3.6 cm ≈ 3.2–6.0 cm. Apex bluntly pointed. Base cordate. Surfaces sparsely puberulous or subglabrous. Margins crenate, ciliate. Petioles 2–17 cm. Stipules inconspicuous or ostipules lanceolate to linear–lanceolate, margins fimbriate, projections gland–tipped, apex acute.

Flowers: Flowers in early–season flowers on scapes up to 10 cm tall, fragrant; late–season flowers commonly produced, on scapes 1.25–2.5 cm tall. Flowers bisexual (perfect). Calyx of 5 sepals, sepals greenish purple, narrow to broadly lanceolate, margins ciliate, auricles 3–4 mm. Corolla to 2.5 cm in diameter, not circular in outline, violet, corolla of 5 petals, lowermost petals spurred, spur usually same color as petals, lateral pair of petals bearded or glabrous; (Corolla (petals) absent on late season flowers). Stamens 5; filaments short; anthers dithecal, opening by longitudinal slits. Ovary superior, 3-carpellate, 1-celled; ovules numerous per placenta, placentation parietal; anatropous; style 1.

Fruit: Fruit globose capsules; ca. 5–8 mm; puberulent; not explosive; sometimes purple–flecked; ovoid. Seeds numerous; brown; 3–4 mm; with fleshy; oily endosperm.

Ploidy: 2n = 20

Habitat:

Elevation Range:

Historical Distribution

Uses and Culture

USES

  • Yes

Natural History

Statewide Status

Naturalized

Island Status

Kaua'i Naturalized
O'ahu Only found in cultivation
Lana'i Naturalized
Hawai'i Naturalized

Dispersal Agents


Pollinators

Bibliography

Name Published In: Sp. Pl.: 934 (1753)

Other References

Wagner et al. 1990:1332 (K? [reported but unvouchered along stream and in wet forest on southwestern Kaua‘I, 1987], L? [single coll. along watercourse in Mahana Valley, 1910]); Shannon & Wagner 1996:15 (NEWNAT/H); Staples & Herbst 2005:570 (KEY, DESCR); Imada 2007:39 (K)

Occurrences

SNo. Scientific Name Scientific Name Authorship Locality Habitat Basis of Record Recorded By Record Number Island Source Date
1 Viola odorata L. Honolulu; Punahou area, 1944 Manoa Rd PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lau, J. 1316 Oahu BISH 8/19/1985
2 Viola odorata L. Kokee. Camp 10 Rd. Gdn at Plew's residence. no seedlings observed PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Plews, J.H.R. s.n. Kauai BISH 10/23/1986
3 Viola odorata L. Waimea, Kokee, Halemanu Road between Hwy. 550 and Stream, NE of turnoff from NASA tracking station with Acacia koa, Corynocarpus, Myrica faya, Rubus argutus, Passiflora tarminiana PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lorence, D.H. Lorence, G.; Black, L. Collector Number: 8455 Kauai BISH 12/30/1999
4 Viola odorata L. Mahana PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Rock, J.F.C. 8080 Lanai BISH 7/24/1910
5 Viola odorata L. kokee. camp 10 rd. gdn at plew's residence. no seedlings observed PRESERVED_SPECIMEN plews, j.h.r. collector number: s.n. Kauai BISH 10/23/1986
6 Viola odorata L. Mahana Valley, along the watercourse PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Rock, J.F.C. 8080 Lanai BISH 7/24/1910
7 Viola odorata L. honolulu; punahou area, 1944 manoa rd PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lau, j. collector number: 1316 Kauai BISH 8/19/1985
8 Viola odorata L. mahana valley, along the watercourse PRESERVED_SPECIMEN rock, j.f.c. collector number: 8080 Lanai BISH 7/24/1910
9 Viola odorata L. Park Cottage 55 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fagerlund, G.O. 456 Hawaii BISH 3/15/1943
10 Viola odorata L. mahana valley, along the watercourse Assoc. with Antidesma, Metrosideros, Pipturus & Urera. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN rock, j.f.c. collector number: 8080 Oahu BISH 7/24/1910
11 Viola odorata L. waimea, kokee, halemanu road between hwy. 550 and stream, ne of turnoff from nasa tracking station Near cane fields. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN lorence, d.h. lorence, g.; black, l. collector number: 8455 Hawaii BISH 12/30/1999
12 Viola odorata L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ho, A. Collector Number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/7/1931
13 Viola odorata L. Waimea, Kokee, Halemanu Road between Hwy. 550 and Stream, NE of turnoff from NASA tracking station with Acacia koa, Corynocarpus, Myrica faya, Rubus argutus, Passiflora tarminiana PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Lorence, D.H. 8455 Kauai BISH 12/30/1999
14 Viola odorata L. MAUI: E. Maui, Makawao District, Olinda. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Hank Oppenheimer H30140 Maui PTBG 3/24/2001
15 Viola odorata L. park cottage 55 PRESERVED_SPECIMEN fagerlund, g.o. mitchell, a.l. collector number: 456 Lanai BISH 3/15/1943
16 Viola odorata L. mahana PRESERVED_SPECIMEN rock, j.f.c. collector number: 8080 Lanai BISH 7/24/1910
17 Viola odorata L. honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN ho, a. collector number: s.n. Oahu BISH 3/7/1931
18 Viola odorata L. mahana. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN j. f. rock 8080 Lanai US 7/24/1910
19 Viola odorata L. hawaii volcanoes national park, thurston lava tube, kilauea PRESERVED_SPECIMEN f. r. fosberg 46053 Hawaii US 3/20/1965
20 Viola odorata L. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Thurston Lava Tube, Kilauea PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Fosberg, F. R. 46053 Hawaii US 3/20/1965
21 Viola odorata L. Mahana. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Rock, J. F. 8080 Lanai US 7/24/2010
22 Viola odorata L. iao, maui On trunks PRESERVED_SPECIMEN aborn, r. s.n. YPM 4/13/1962
23 Viola odorata L. Honolulu PRESERVED_SPECIMEN Ho, A. s.n. Oahu BISH 3/7/1931
24 Viola odorata L. Mahana valley, along watercourse. PRESERVED_SPECIMEN J. F. Rock 8080 Lanai PTBG 7/24/1910