Sponsored by the New Brunswick Botany Club

The Key To White Violets

Check the stem ... the plants in these groups are...

ACAULESCENT (without a stem) CAULESCENT (with a stem)
Viola lanceolata
Viola primulifolia
Viola macloskeyi
Viola renifolia
Viola blanda
Viola blanda var. palustriformis		 Viola canadensis
this is the only violet in this group in New Brunswick.

Acaulescent white violets:

    • Leaf blades are 1.5 - 7.0 times as long as wide,
      only slightly or not cordate at the base, go to (B)

    • Leaf blades are less than 1.5 times as long as wide,
      cordate at the base, go to (C)

    • Leaf blades 3.0 - 7.0 times as long as wide, narrowly tapering at the base;
      margins are denticulate (fine toothed), each tooth with a distinct red-brown to black gland at the apex, then you probably have, Viola lanceolata

    • Leaf blades 1.5 - 3.0 times as long as wide, widely tapering to truncate or subcordate at the base;
      margins are crenate, the teeth with inconspicuous, pale glands, then you probably have, Viola primulifolia

    • Leaf blades small, usually longer than wide, strictly glabrous (no hairs)
      and thin;
      margins are low-crenate or subentire (almost no teeth), then you probably have, Viola macloskeyi

    • Leaf blades usually as wide as long, or wider, commonly have some pubescence and are thick;
      margins are low-serrate, go to (D)

    • Leaf blades wider than long (reniform), the midrib usually equaling 50 - 77 % of the total blade width;
      leaf pubescence variable (sometimes glabrous), usually found on the lower surface;
      stolons not produced, then you probably have, Viola renifolia

    • Leaf blades about as long as wide (cordate-ovate), the midrib usually equaling 75 - 90 % of the total blade width;
      leaf pubescence usually found on the upper surface;
      stolons present, at least later in the season, go to (E)

    • Lateral petals commonly glabrous (no pointed hairs);
      leaf blades pointed (sharp-acute) at the apex, nearly glabrous,
      the hairs often restricted to the basal lobes on the upper surface;
      basal sinus of leaf blades narrow, commonly 0.8 - 1.0 times as long as wide;
      flower peduncles tinged with red and glabrous, then you probably have, Viola blanda var. blanda

    • Lateral petals pubescent with pointed hairs;
      leaf blades rounded (obtuse) at the apex, with sparse to dense pubescence on one or both surfaces;
      basal sinus of leaf blades wide, commonly 0.75 - 0.85 times as long as wide;
      flower peduncles green and pubescent, then you probably have, Viola blanda var. palustriformis

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Viola lanceolata Linnaeus

(pronounced: VY-oh-lah lan-seeoh-LAY-tuh) strap-leaved violet
(means: lance-shaped) (lance-leaved violet)

Rarity Ranking in NB: S4 - fairly common (mostly in southern New Brunswick)

Habitat: in wet, open areas, on sand and thin organic soil over sand, on coarse gravel and sandy loams; it is found in open bogs, moist meadows, in sand pits, on shores of rivers, streams , ponds and lakes, ditches.

Flowering: May through early-June (mid spring, when maple leaves are developping).

Notable features:
  1. leaf blades 3 to 7 times as long as wide (the narrowest violet leaf in New Brunswick); margin minutely serrate, with a distinct red-brown to black gland on each tooth;
  2. lateral and spurred petals glabrous (or rarely with a few hairs);
  3. flowers white with purple-brown veins;
  4. stolons present after flowering; rhizomes slender 1 - 2 mm thick;
  5. sepals eciliate;
  6. "style dilated toward the apex, with a conical beak on the lower side, the stigma (is) located within the tip of the beak" (Haines 2001) (Infrageneric group: Stolonosae), the style is nearly straight.


leaf




style and stigma

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Viola primulifolia Linnaeus

(pronounced: VY-oh-lah pree-muh-lee-FOH-lee-uh)
(means: Primrose-leaved) primrose-leaved violet

Note: this is the fertile hybrid between Viola lanceolata x Viola macloskeyi ssp. pallens (Syn: Viola x sublanceolata House). It often grows in the absence of the parents.

Rarity ranking in NB: not yet ranked, has been found only in the southwest portion of New Brunswick

Habitat: it is found in open, wet (hydric) soils, wet sands, in wet depressions of fields and meadows, shores of rivers, streams and lakes.

Flowering: May through early-June (mid spring, when maple leaves are developing).

Notable features:
  1. leaf blades 1.5 to 2.5 times as long as wide, usually oblong ovate, broad-cuneate to truncate at the base; margin crenate, with a minute pale to dark red gland (not black) at the tip of each tooth;
  2. lateral and spurred petals glabrous (or rarely with a few hairs);
  3. flowers white with purple-brown veins;
  4. stolons present after flowering; rhizomes slender 1 - 2 mm thick;
  5. sepals eciliate;
  6. "style dilated toward the apex, with a conical beak on the lower side, the stigma (is) located within the tip of the beak" (Haines 2001) (Infrageneric group: Stolonosae), the style is nearly straight.

leaf





style and stigma

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Viola macloskeyi

F. E. Lloyd (pronounced: VY-oh-lah mah-KLOSS-kee-eye) wild white violet
(named for George Macloskie (1834-1919) Irish born botanist living in the USA) (northern white violet)

Note: our plants are Viola macloskeyi ssp. pallens (Banks ex DeCandolle) Baker) (pronounced: pal-LENS) (means: pale) (syn: Viola pallens (Banks ex DeCandolle) Brainerd)

Rarity Ranking in NB: S5 - abundant

Habitat: in cool, wet areas, in full sunlight or partially shaded; alder thickets, open woods, forested bogs and fens, wet fields, stream shores, shaded seeps, roadside ditches; also grows in boreal and subalpine areas.

Flowering: late May through mid-June (late spring, when maple leaves have reached their full size).

Notable features:
  1. leaf blades thin, usually longer than wide, with a prominent basal sinus (see V. renifolia for comparison); both surfaces are glabrous (see V. blanda for comparison); the color is light green or yellow-green with a dull or glossy, but not a satiny, sheen (see V. blanda for comparison); the petiole is glabrous or usually with sparse, long, curved hairs, usually with a green coloration, and with red dots;
  2. lateral and spurred petals glabrous (or rarely with a few hairs, not forming a patch);
  3. flowers white with purple veins , usually overtopping the leaves;
  4. stolons present after flowering ; rhizomes slender 1 - 2 mm thick;
  5. sepals eciliate;
  6. "style dilated toward the apex, with a conical beak on the lower side, the stigma (is) located within the tip of the beak" (Haines 2001) (Infrageneric group: Stolonosae), the style is slightly bent.

stigma and style
Viola macloskeyi

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Viola renifolia

A. Gray (prononced: VY-oh-lah ren-ee-FOH-lee-uh) kidney-leaved violet
(means: kidney-leaved) (syn: Viola renifolia var. brainerdii (Greene) Fernald)

Rarity Ranking in NB: S4S5 - fairly common to abundant

Habitat: in forests, usually cool and moist, or on rocky slopes, prefers calcareous soils, or rich humus; in arborvitae swamps, boreal conifer woods, upland hardwoods, shores of streams and rivers, also found in shaded limestone ravines.

Flowering: May through early-June (mid spring, when maple leaves are developping).

Notable features:
  1. leaf blades thick, reniform, broader than long, the midrib is usually 50 to 77 % of the total blade width, the basal sinus is usually shallow; the margins are low-serrate, with upturned teeth; both surfaces are sometimes pubescent (rarely glabrous), more frequently, only the lower surface is pubescent; the petiole is usually pubescent (rarely glabrous), green to purplish;
  2. lateral and spurred petals glabrous (or rarely with a few hairs, not forming a patch);
  3. flowers white with purple veins, usually at same the level or lower than the leaves 4) stolons not present (i.e., look for individual plants, not colonies); rhizomes slender 1 - 2 (- 4) mm thick;
  4. sepals eciliate (rarely ciliate on the auricles);
  5. "style dilated toward the apex, with a conical beak on the lower side, the stigma (is) located within the tip of the beak" (Haines 2001) (Infrageneric group: Stolonosae), the style is slightly bent.

stigma and style
Viola renifolia
Viola renifolia

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Viola blanda var. blanda

Willdenow (pronounced: VY-oh-lah BLAN-duh) sweet white violet
(means: mild, agreeable, for flower odour)

Rarity Ranking in NB: S5 (for var. palustriformis); var. blanda appears to be less common;

Habitat: mesic to wetter, open to shaded forests, hardwoods, mixedwoods and sometimes in conifers stands, alder thickets, cool ravines and moist, shady slopes in deep humus, moist and shaded roadsides and lawns; var. blanda prefers rich hardwood stands.

Flowering: mid-May through June (mid spring, when maple leaves are developping).

Notable features:
  1. leaf blades firm, flattened and prostrate, dark green, with a satiny sheen; usually about as long as wide (heart-shaped), the midrib usually equaling 75 to 90 percent of the total width of the blade; the basal sinus is narrow, 0.8 to 1.0 times as long as wide; blade acute at the apex; the surface is usually glabrous or sometimes with hairs on the basal lobes of the upper surface; the petioles are tinged with red and glabrous;
  2. lateral petals glabrous (or rarely with a few hairs);
  3. flowers white with purple veins, usually at same the level or lower than the leaves; flower peduncles tinged with red and glabrous;
  4. stolons present; rhizomes slender 1 - 3 mm thick; plants forming small mats;
  5. sepals eciliate;
  6. "style dilated toward the apex, with a conical beak on the lower side, the stigma (is) located within the tip of the beak" (Haines 2001) (Infrageneric group: Stolonosae), the style is slightly bent.

stigma and style
Viola blanda var. blanda
Viola blanda var. blanda

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Viola blanda var. palustriformis

A. Gray large-leaved white violet (pronounced: VY-oh-lah BLAN-duh variety pah-luss-TREE-for-miss)
(means: marsh form) (syn: Viola incognita Brainerd (means: unknown)

Rarity Ranking in NB: S5 - abundant (this is the more common variety in New Brunswick)

Habitat: mesic to wetter, open to shaded forests, hardwoods, mixedwoods and sometimes in conifers stands, alder thickets, cool ravines and moist, shady slopes in deep humus, moist and shaded roadsides and lawns;

Flowering: mid-May through June (mid spring, when maple leaves are developping).

Notable features:
  1. leaf blades membranous, rugulose (nerves pronounced) and ascending, dark green, with a satiny sheen; usually about as long as wide (heart-shaped), the midrib usually equaling 75 to 90 percent of the total width of the blade; the basal sinus is wide, 0.75 to 0.85 times as long as wide; blade obtuse to broadly rounded at the apex; one or both surfaces has sparse to dense pubescense; the petioles are usually green and pubescent;
  2. lateral petals pubescent ("bearded") with hairs rounded at the apex; this feature alone can separate this violet from the other white acaulescent violets;
  3. flowers white with purple veins, usually at same the level or lower than the leaves; flower peduncles green and pubescent;
  4. stolons present; rhizomes slender 1 - 3 mm thick; plants forming intrictate carpets;
  5. sepals eciliate;
  6. "style dilated toward the apex, with a conical beak on the lower side, the stigma (is) located within the tip of the beak" (Haines 2001) (Infrageneric group: Stolonosae), the style is slightly bent.The style is identical to the one for var. blanda.

Viola blanda var. palustriformis

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Viola canadensis

Linnaeus (pronounced: VY-oh-lah KAN-ah-den-siss) tall white violet (Canada violet)

Rarity Ranking in NB: S1S2 - extremely rare to rare

Habitat: rich hardwood forests, often with Sugar maple (Acer saccharum), White ash (Fraxinus americana) and Basswood (Tila americana), found at the base of calcareous rocky slopes and ledge outcrops in these forests (these types of forests are found in western New Brunswick along the NB-Maine border)

Flowering: mid-May through early-June (early spring, when maple leaves are emerging)

Notable features:
  1. the only caulescent (stemmed) white violet in New Brunswick;
  2. leaf blades heart-shaped with a very long, pointed apex;
  3. flowers white with a yellow center, with purple lines at the base and purple tinged on the back;
  4. lateral petals pubescent ("bearded") with hairs rounded at the apex;
  5. stolons absent; rhizomes 3 to 5 mm thick; plants form small colonies;
  6. sepals eciliate (rarely with a few cilia near the base);
  7. "style capitate, nearly beakless, provided with minute hairs on either side of the summit, the stigma (is) located at the apex a tiny tip" (Haines 2001) (Infrageneric group: Canadenses), the style is distinctly bent; the ovary is minutely hairy;

stigma and style
Viola canadensis (Hinds 2000)

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Hybrids of White Violets

Except for Viola primulifolia (V. lanceolata x V. macloskeyi ssp. pallens), no white violet hybrids (of infrageneric group: Stolonosae) have been reported for New Brunswick.

Possible hybrids among species of this group are:

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Violet Intro; Violet Features; Key to Violet/Purple/Blue; Key Yellow & Multicolored

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