Roses are red, Violets are blue. Both statements are only partially true, for roses come in virtually every color except true blue, and the hue of violets extends beyond blue. Since many of us know little about this plant beyond the simple poem, let’s dig into it a bit deeper.
Violets are found within the genus Viola, which is one of about 25 genera in the Violaceae family. This large genus contains as many as 600 species, most of which are found in the temperate regions of North America. The majority of the plants in the genus are low growing perennial plants, but some are herbaceous annuals, and a few are even small shrubs. Leaves and flowers generally appear to emerge from the ground with no apparent stem, a phenomenon known in the botanical world as acaulescence. The actual stem is a knotty rhizome that can be found just below the soil surface. The few violet species that do have above ground stems are caulescent.
Leaves are usually heart-shaped with shallow teeth, though a few species have oval leaves or are lobed. Flowers, which appear in May, have five petals. Four are fan shaped with two per side. One broad lobed petal points downward and often serves as a landing pad for pollinating insects. The shape and placement of the petals is used by botanists to determine the species. Flowers are usually a shade of purple or blue, but yellow and white flowers are also found within the myriad of species. The fruit is a capsule that splits open when mature and projects the numerous seeds up to several yards. For this reason, violets are often found naturally in colonies.
Violets are commonly found in Wisconsin, with up to 20 species either native or naturalized from introduced species. In 1909, Viola papilionacea, now called Viola sororia, the common blue violet or wood violet, was selected by school children of Wisconsin as the state flower, though it was not officially adopted by the legislature until 1949. This species is widespread throughout the state and the Midwest and is a source of food and nectar for butterflies and bees. So common is it in the Eastern United States that Illinois, Rhode Island, and New Jersey have also adopted it as their state flower, in addition to Wisconsin.
Wood violet grows well on all sites and can be found in wet or dry soil situations, full sun prairies, or even woodlands. It has unique adaptations for the survival and spread of the species. Seed may be produced either by cross pollination with another violet or by self-fertilization, a process known as cleistogamy. Seeds are coated with proteins and lipids that attract a specific species of ant, which then disperses the seeds by taking them back to their nest. This mutualism equally benefits the violet population and the ant colony.
Both the flowers and the leaves of Viola sororia are edible. Leaves may be eaten raw or included in salads. They are high in vitamins A and C. Flowers of the plant have been made into jelly, candy, or tea. Derivatives of the plant were used by the Cherokee to treat colds and headaches. Homeowners have a love-hate relationship with violets in their yard. Some incorporate it in their lawns as a wildflower, while others consider it a weed. The latter find it difficult to control with weed killing products.
Viola tricolor is a European species usually called wild pansy or Johnny-jump-up. It is an annual plant or short-lived perennial and is the dominant species in the hybrid bedding plant that we call pansies (Viola x wittrockiana). Viola tricolor has two purple upper petals with a variety of colors being found in the lower three. Pansies usually have a blotch or colorful eye in the middle of the flower. They prefer cooler temperatures and are not heat tolerant, so are often planted in the fall when annual bedding plants are past their prime. In southern states they may bloom throughout the winter while in the north they succumb to snow and frigid temperatures.
Whether you consider violets weeds or desirable plants, now that you know more about them, hopefully you will have a greater appreciation for their persistence and versatility. Think of that next time you incorporate it into your fledging poetry endeavors.
The Cottage Gardener 