Violets (Viola)

.... lvs basal toothed alternate toothed
white fls Group I Group II
yellow fls Group III Group IV
violet fls Group V Group VI

Group I

  lvs narrow, 3 times as long as wide lvs narrow, 1.5-2.5 times as long as wide lvs kidney-shaped cordate-ovate
lvs & fl stalks smooth lance-leaved v. (16.lanceolata = lanceolate) damp meadows & shores primrose-lvd v. (15primulifolia = primrose-lvd) moist meadows, & stream banks, esp in sandy soil; NB to FL ..... sweet white v. (13.blanda) 2 upper pet in life strongly reflexed & somewhat twisted; fr purple; cool ravines & moist shady slopes in deep humus, us under evergreens; s ME to NJ & in mts to n GA

northern white v. (14.macloskeyi) 2 upper pet not (or only sl) recurved, not twisted; fr green; rounded at tip; springy land & along cold streams, often in shallow water; NF to DE & s in mts
hairy lvs & fl stalks     kidney-leaved v (12.renifolia = kidney-lvd) rounded at tip; Arbor-vitae swamps & cold woods; NB to NY  

Group II

..... puny stiplules large, fringed stipules many-lobed, leaflike stipules
white inside w a yellow base, the 3 lower w/ purplish lines toward the base Canada v. (21.canadensis = Canadian) moist woods; NF to AK to AL ..... .....
cream or ivory colored, us w/ brown-purple veins near the base ..... pale v. (22.striata = with fine lines) rounded at tip; ditches & streams; WI to NYs .....
deep blue or bluish-white to cream or ivory colored ..... ..... field pansy v. (27.rafinesquii = Constantine Samuel Rafinesque-Schmaltz, 1783-1840) leaf pointed at tip; fields, open woods, roadsides & grassy places; IO to NYs

Group III

round-leaved violet (1. rotundifolia = round-leaved) hairy on upper leaf stalk; deep, rich, us coniferous, woods; se QE to DE & in mts to GA

Group IV

..... AT with indentation AT no indentation at base
smooth halberd-leaved violet (19. hastata = hastate) rich woods; sw PA to NC .....
hairy on sheath on fl stalk smooth yellow violet (20. pubescens = pubescent) moist woods .....
hairy on leaf & fl stalks ..... downy yellow violet (20 pubescents) dry woods

Group V

..... lvs somewhat pointed & long stalked, stalks distinctly longer than the lf blades mostly blunt & short stalked lobed divided
fl stalks smooth, petals bearded marsh blue v. (4.cucullata = hooded) fls long-stalked; fl hairs club-like; fls darker toward center; inrolled young lvs; bogs, swamps & other wet or moist places; NF to GA

common blue v. (5.sororia) moist or wet places, sometimes in disturbed sites & somewhat weedy: NF to FL

 ..... arrow-leaved v. (3.sagittata = arrowhead) lobed at base coast violet (8.palmata = palmatge) sandy soil along the coast
fl stalks smooth, petals beardless ..... ..... ..... birdfoot violet (2.pedata = footlike) pale lilac purple; dry fields & open woods; ME to n FL
fl stalks soft-hairy or downy northern blue v. (5.sororia) ovate-leaved (3.sagittata = arrow-shaped) dry to moist, open woods, clearings & meadows three-lobed v. (8.palmata = palmate)

sweet violet (9.odorata = fragrant) finely hairy; esp about dwelling; Eurp escape

 .....

Group VI

..... AT; stipules toothed stipules with few or no teeth
fl stalks smooth, petals bearded dog violet (24.conspersa = scattered, from the dotted lower lf surface) lower petal spur 1/4"; woods & meadows; NS & QE to PA & s in mts to SC sand or hooked violet (23.adunca = hooked from the not unusual spur) 1/4" spur; sandy or gravelly, moist or dry soil; Greenland to NY
fl stalks, smooth, petals beardless long-spurred violet (26.rostrata = beaked, from the long spur) pale lilac w darker center; spur 1/2"; shady slopes & woodlands, us in deep humus; ME & Qe to GA & AL .....

Common blue violet (V. papilionacea). In addition to the normal flowers there are often flowers near the ground that fail to open, but their whitish fruit produces vast quantities of seeds. Violet leaves are high in vitamins A and C and can be used in salads or cooked as greens. The flowers can be made into candies and jellies.

Bird-foot violet (V. pedata). It is pollinated by bees and butterflies. The bicolored form of this species, with its 2 upper petals a deep violet and the lower three a lilac shade, has been considered the most beautiful violet in the world.