Viola (plant) 157841 221337193 2008-06-24T02:18:20Z Bathrobe 125728 /* Description */ {{Taxobox | name = Viola | image = Violasoralba.jpg | image_width = 200px | image_caption = White flowering Viola. | regnum = [[Plant]]ae | divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]] | classis = [[Dicotyledon|Magnoliopsida]] | ordo = [[Malpighiales]] | familia = [[Violaceae]] | genus = '''''Viola''''' | subdivision_ranks = Species | subdivision = '''[[List of Viola species|List of ''Viola'' species]]''' }} '''''Viola''''', commonly called '''Violets''', is a [[genus]] of [[flowering plant]]s in the family [[Violaceae]], with around 400-500 species distributed around the world. Most species are found in the temperate [[Northern Hemisphere]], however viola species are also found in widely divergent areas such as [[Hawaii]], [[Australasia]], and the [[Andes]] in [[South America]]. Most ''Viola'' species are small [[perennial plant]]s, some are [[annual plant]]s, and a few are small [[shrub]]s. A number of species are grown for their ornamental flowers in borders and rock gardens; the garden [[pansy]] in particular is an extensively used [[Spring (season)|spring]] and [[autumn]]/[[winter]] bedding and pot plant. ==Description== ''Viola'' species typically have heart-shaped, scalloped [[leaf|leaves]], though a number have palmate leaves or other shapes. The vast majority of ''Viola'' species are [[Herbaceous plant|herbaceous]], however a substantial number are acaulescent in habit without any noticeable stems, while the others have short stems with flowers produced in the axils of the leaves. The simple leaves of plants with either habit are arranged alternately; the acaulescent species produce basal rosettes. Plants always have leaves with stipules that are often leaf-like. [[Image:Viola x hybrida 'Clear Crystals Apricot', SC, Vic., 15.9.2007.jpg|right|thumb|250px|A viola [[cultivar]] showing the large round flowers and the novel coloration that has been achieved through breeding.]] The [[flower]]s of the vast majority of the species are zygomorphic with bilateral symmetry. The flowers are formed from five petals; four are upswept or fan-shaped petals with two per side, and there is one broad, lobed lower petal pointing downward. The shape of the petals and placement defines many species, for example, some ''Viola'' species have a "spur" on the end of each petal while most have a spur on the lower petal. Solitary flowers are produced on long stalks with a pair of bracteoles, and have 5 sepals that remain persistent after blooming, although the sepals sometimes enlarge after blooming. The flowers have five free stamens with short filaments that are oppressed against the ovary, with only the lower two stamens having nectary spurs that are inserted on the lowest petal into the spur or pouch. The flower styles are thickened near the top and the stigmas are head-like, narrowed or often beaked. The flowers have a superior ovary that is one celled with three placentae, containing many ovules. After flowering, fruit capsules are produced that split open by way of three valves.<ref>Cullen, J. 2001. ''Handbook of North European garden plants with keys to families and genera''. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. Page 345.</ref> ''Viola'' flowers are most often spring blooming with chasmogamous flowers with well developed petals pollinated by insects. Many species also produce self-pollinated cleistogamous flowers in summer and autumn that do not open and lack petals.<ref>Walters, Dirk R., and David J. Keil. 1996. ''Vascular plant taxonomy''. Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Pub. Co. Page 332.</ref> The nutlike seeds have straight embryos, flat cotyledons, and soft fleshy endosperm that is oily.<ref>Cronquist, Arthur. 1981. ''An integrated system of classification of flowering plants''. New York: Columbia University Press. Page 404.</ref> The seeds are often spread by ants. Flower [[colour]]s vary in the genus, ranging from [[violet (color)|violet]], as their common name suggests, through various shades of blue, yellow, white, and cream, whilst some types are bicolored, often blue and yellow. Many [[cultivars]] and [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrids]] have been [[Plant breeding|bred]] in a greater spectrum of colours. Flowering is often profuse, and may last for much of the spring and summer. One quirk of some viola is the elusive scent of their flowers; along with [[terpene]]s, a major component of the scent is a [[ketone]] compound called [[ionone]], which temporarily desensitises the [[olfactory receptor neuron|receptors]] in the nose; this prevents any further scent being detected from the flower. ==Uses== ===Culinary=== When newly opened, ''Viola'' flowers may be used to decorate salads or in stuffings for poultry or fish. Soufflés, cream and similar desserts can be flavoured with essence of ''Viola'' flowers. The young leaves are edible raw or cooked as a somewhat bland [[leaf vegetable]]. A '''candied violet''' or '''crystallized violet''' is a flower, usually of ''[[Viola odorata]]'', preserved by a coating of egg white and crystallised sugar. Alternately, hot syrup is poured over the fresh flower (or the flower is immersed in the syrup), and stirred until the sugar recrystallizes, and is dried. This method is still used for [[rose]] petals, was applied for [[Orange (fruit)|orange]] flowers in the past (when [[almond]]s or orange peel are treated this way they are called [[praline]]s). Candied violets are still made commercially at [[Toulouse]], France, where they are known as ''violettes de Toulouse''. They are used as decorating or included in aromatic desserts. ''Viola'' flavours the [[liqueurs]] [[Creme Yvette]], [[Creme de Violette]], and [[Parfait d'Amour]]. It is also used in [[Parma Violets]]. ===Medicinal=== The flowers, leaves and roots of various ''Viola'' species are used for medicinal purposes, being rich in [[vitamin]]s A and C. They also contain a type of [[antioxidant]] called an [[anthocyanin]]. ''Viola'' flowers are also used to make an herbal tea that is used in [[Chinese herbology|Chinese herbal medicine]]. ===Perfume=== ''[[Viola odorata]]'' is used as a source for scents in the perfume industry. ===By other species=== ''Viola'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species, including the [[Giant Leopard Moth]], [[Large Yellow Underwing]], [[Lesser Broad-bordered Yellow Underwing]], [[High Brown Fritillary]] and [[Setaceous Hebrew Character]]. ==Selected species== [[Image:Violet toporas.jpg|thumb|[[Sweet violet]]]] See [[List of Viola species|List of ''Viola'' species]] for a more complete list. *''[[Viola arvensis]]'' - Field Pansy *''[[Viola banksii]]'' - (Australian) Native Violet *''[[Viola biflora]]'' - Yellow Wood Violet or Twoflower Violet *''[[Viola canina]]'' - Heath Dog Violet *''[[Viola cheiranthifolia]]'' - Teide Violet *''[[Viola hederacea]]'' - Native Violet *''[[Viola hirta]]'' - Hairy Violet *''[[Viola odorata]]'' - Sweet Violet *''[[Viola sororia]]'' - Common Blue Violet or Hooded Violet *''[[Viola pedunculata]]'' - Yellow Pansy *''[[Viola pubescens]]'' - Downy yellow violet *''[[Viola riviniana]]'' - Common Dog Violet *''[[Viola stagnina]]'' - Fen Violet *''[[Viola tricolor]]'' - Wild Pansy or Heartsease ''Note:'' Neither ''[[Saintpaulia]]'' ("African violets") nor ''[[Erythronium dens-canis]]'' ("Dogtooth violets") are related to the true ''Viola''. The genus includes the [[Dog Violet]]s, a group of scentless species which are the most common viola in many areas, the [[sweet violet|Sweet Violet]] ''Viola odorata'' (named from its sweet scent), and many other species whose common name includes the word "violet". Several species are known as pansies, including the [[Yellow Pansy]] of the [[Pacific]] coasts. The Common Blue Violet ''[[Viola sororia]]'' is the [[List of U.S. state flowers|state flower]] of [[Wisconsin]], [[Rhode Island]], [[Illinois]], and [[New Jersey]]. Australia is home to a number of ''Viola'' species, including ''[[Viola hederacea]]'', ''[[Viola betonicifolia]]'' and ''[[Viola banksii]]'', first collected by [[Joseph Banks]] and [[Daniel Solander]] on the [[James Cook|Cook]] voyage to [[Botany Bay]]. The modern [[Pansy|Garden Pansy]] (''V. × wittrockiana'') is a plant of complex [[Hybrid (biology)|hybrid]] origin involving at least three species, [[Heartsease|''V. tricolor'']] (Wild Pansy or Heartsease), ''[[Viola altaica|V. altaica]]'' and ''[[Viola lutea|V. lutea]]'' (Mountain Pansy). == References == {{Reflist}} * [http://www.itis.usda.gov/servlet/SingleRpt/SingleRpt?search_topic=TSN&search_value=22030 ITIS] (Accessed December 2 2002) *''The Oxford Companion to Food'', by Alan Davidson, [[Oxford University Press]]. ISBN 0-19-211579-0 *''Larousse Gastronomique'', by Prosper Montagne (Ed.), Clarkson Potter, 2001. ISBN 0-609-60971-8 ==External links== *[http://www.topwalks.net/plants/generos/violaceae.htm Violaceae in Topwalks] *[http://www.herbier.ulaval.ca/specimens_types/template.php?pid=0045456 ''Viola charlestonensis'' type sheet] from Louis-Marie herbarium ([[Laval University]]; Isotype, [[holotype]] is at [[University of California]]). *[http://www.alpine-plants-jp.com/art/index_sumireka.htm Images of Japanese ''Viola''] - Flavon's art gallery [[Category:Viola| ]] [[Category:Flowers]] [[Category:Garden plants]] [[Category:Lawn weeds]] [[Category:Leaf vegetables]] [[Category:Medicinal plants]] [[ar:البنفسج]] [[bg:Теменуга]] [[ca:Viola (gènere)]] [[cs:Violka]] [[da:Viol]] [[he:סגל (סוג)]] [[de:Veilchen]] [[es:Viola (género)]] [[fa:بنفشه]] [[fr:Viola (genre végétal)]] [[hsb:Fijałka]] [[it:Viola (botanica)]] [[ka:ია]] [[lt:Našlaitė]] [[hu:Ibolya (virág)]] [[nl:Viooltje]] [[ja:スミレ属]] [[no:Fioler]] [[nn:Fiolar]] [[pl:Fiołek]] [[pt:Viola (planta)]] [[se:Violat]] [[simple:Violet (plant)]] [[sr:Љубичица]] [[fi:Orvokit]] [[sv:Violer]] [[tr:Menekşe]] [[uk:Фіалка]]