Violaceae

Plant Sex: Flowers bisexual.

Flowers: Zygomorphic - one petal modified into a spur. One of the stamens with a nectary that protrudes into the spur. Petals often bearded. Anthers with membranous apical appendage. Placentation parietal. In Viola, both chasmogamous (outcrossed) and cleistogamous (selfed) flowers occur.

Inflorescence: Flowers solitary and axillary (scapose) or in racemes, heads, panicles, or cymes.

Fruits: Loculicidal capsules (rarely a berry, nut or samara).

Habit: Perennial herbs, shrubs, rarely trees or lianas.

Leaves: Alternate, simple or lobed; stipule present.

Examples:

Viola (violets)

V. sororia (= V. pratincola, V. papilionacea) the common blue violet. Habit of plants showing flower color variation. Flower. Flower L.S. Cleistogamous flowers. Fruits from chasmogamous and cleistogamous flowers.
V. rafinesquii (Johnny-jump-up). Flowering shoots. Flowers. Fruiting plants.
V. tricolor (pansy). Garden showing flower color variation.
V. X wittrockiana. Flower face view. Flower L.S.

Hybanthus

H. concolor (green violet). Habit of plant in flower. Close-up of flowering shoot. Flowers. Flower. Young fruit.

Hymenanthera

H. crassifolia (tree violet). Fruiting branch. Note the fruit here is a berry!

Rinorea (300 species of tropical trees!)

SIUC / College of Science / Elements of Plant Systematics
URL: http://www.plantbiology.siu.edu/PLB304/Lecture16Malpig/Violaceae.html
Last updated: 14-Mar-08 / dln