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Viola sororia herbarium image CATU

Viola sororia edit

Viola sororia Willd. is the accepted name of this species in the genus Viola (family Violaceae). [1] This perennial plant species is distributed in the eastern half of the United States, Canada and a part of Eastern Mexico.[2] Their native habitats are rich, moist woods, and swamps located in the eastern half of the United States and Canada. [3] Because Viola sororia is also a weed, it may become troublesome in fertile and moist locations. [4] Viola sororia, also known as a woolly blue violet, is a violet species that is a part of the Viola genus, which includes over 600 species and is in the Violaceae family (Violet Family).[5] There are several different names that this species may be known by, such as, Confederate Violet, Hooded Violet, Meadow Violet, Purple Violet, Violet, Wild Blue Violet, Wood Violet, or Wooly Blue Violet.[4] Because of its bright colors and variety, it has been used as a state flower in many states. [4]

Phonetic Pronunciation edit

The most common way to pronounce Viola sororia is "vy-OH-la so-ROR-ee-uh" [4]

Description edit

Viola sororia is a short-stemmed, herbaceous perennial plant that grows in well-drained and shady habitats. [4] This 6-10Inch wide violet has glossy, heart-shaped leaves and are topped with purple flowers with white throats.[3] The lower three petals are hairy and the stem of the flower droops slightly.[3] These flowers can be found in the woods, thickets, and near streambeds. [4] This plant species can live and reproduce for over more than 10 years. [6] Blooming in the Spring-Summer, or the months of April-August, the Viola sororia can be found in colors of white, blue, or even purple. [4]

History edit

Viola sororia originated in the eastern and central parts of North America, and are commonly found in the United States.[6] They are known to survive in both shaded and sunlit environments, which means their habitats range from open fields, to shaded forests. [7][6]

Taxonomy edit

Viola sororia comes in a few different sizes, patterns, and colors. It is a low-growing (4-8" tall) perennial, that is also extremely adaptable, especially to foot traffic and lawn-mowing.[8] The purple or blue flowers have yellow and white highlights in their throats; however, the white form of this flower (V. sororia priceana) has white flowers with purple highlights on its throat. [8] There are also a few hybrids of this species such as Viola Sororia Willd, Viola affinis x Viola sororia, Viola brittoniana x Viola sororia, Viola cucullata x Viola sororia, and Viola nephrophylla x Viola sororia.[9]

Distribution and Habitat edit

Viola sororia are primarily found in forests and are interfertile, meaning they are likely and able to breed with other closely related species.[6]The species grows on the forest floor and environment can adapt to sunny or partly shady conditions.[3] The leaves on the Viola sororia develop in the early spring when the surrounding tree crowns are not fully closed.[10] However, when the canopy closes, the leaves continue to grow and develop.[10] Typically the soil needs to be moist and rich, and well drained. [3]

Toxicity edit

Viola Sororia leaves and flowers are edible in moderation and also safe to plant around pets. [3]

Ecology edit

Native bees such as the Mason Bees, Halictid Bees, and the most common, the Mining Bee, visit the Viola sororia plant for its nectar in the spring time.[8] Butterflies are also known to pollinate from this species.[4] These pollinated flowers result in a normal seed distribution like most flowering plants; however, Viola sororia produce seeds in the late summer from a process called cleistogamy.[8] This means that it self-fertilizes inside the plant, without opening.[8] The seed capsules eventually turn upright, opens, and shoots out their seeds as far as 9 feet away from the plant.[8]

Violets also employ myrmecochory, which is the process of the seeds being dispersed by ants. [11] The seeds are coated with protein- and lipid-rich morsels, also known as elaiosomes, and they attract ants.[11] The ants then gather the seeds and bring them back to their nests.[11] When the coating is consumed by the ants, it is discarded into their waste piles, which is actually just planting the seeds.[11] Although they have no known toxicities, when it comes to fire ecology, they are not fire resistant, and their fire tolerance is low. [12] They have no serious insect or disease problems and their foliage usually declines in hot summers.[13]


A term known as myrmecochory, which is a form of mutualism between the Viola sororia plant species and a certain ant species. [14] The diaspore have elaiosomes that attract ants and lead to the dispersal of the diaspores. [14] The appendages are nutrient-rich, which induces some ant species to carry the diaspores from the plant, back to their nest.[14] The elaiosome is consumed and the germinable seed is discarded.[14] Ants can increase the dispersal distance by moving diaspore away from the parent plant, move them from other competitors and predators, and relocate them to favorable sites for germination. [14]Within the ant nest, seeds may be protected from fire and seed predators, which is beneficial for the Viola sororia plant, considering they are not fire resistant. [14]

History and Culture edit

The genus, Violaceae, is known as a symbol of love and modesty by individuals from Sappho to Shakespeare to Christina Rossetti. [11] In the 1930s, a Broadway play featured a lesbian character that won over the lady she was in love with, with violets.[11] This inspired a violet fad and was the reason why violets may also be known as "the lesbian flower".[11] This Genus name also comes from the Latin name for various sweet-scented flowers.[13]

Lawn Weed edit

Viola sororia is known as a wild violet that may be hard to control due to its invasive nature. Halauxifenmethyl, has shown promising results on hard-to-control weeds, including Viola sororia.[15]

Uses edit

Viola sororia can also be used to decorate walkways and park areas.[4] It is used as a wildflower in lawns, though some consider Viola sororia a weed, which is environmentally beneficial for removing pollution and being a resource for pollinators. [4] They are also very high in vitamins A and C, which means they can be used in salads, cooked as greens, or even made into candies and jellies.[3] The young leaves and flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked, or brewed for a tea.[16] Viola sororia may also work as an anti-inflammatory and used topically for skin conditions.[16]Viola sororia is deer resistant.[3]

External Links edit

New Jersey State Flower

Illinois State Flower

Flora of Wisconsin: Consortium of Wisconsin Herbaria

Rhode Island State Flower

References edit

  1. ^ "Viola sororia Willd. — The Plant List". www.theplantlist.org. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  2. ^ "Viola sororia | International Plant Names Index". ipni.org. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet, Confederate Violet, Dooryard Violet, Florida Violet, Hooded Blue Violet, Hooded Violet, Meadow Violet, Missouri Violet, Purple Violet, Sister Violet, Violets, Wild Violet, Wood Violet, Woolly Blue Violet) | North Carolina Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox". plants.ces.ncsu.edu. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  5. ^ Maslo, Semir; Sarajlić, Nermina; Kotrošan, Dražen (2018-10-29). "Viola sororia Willd. (Violaceae): new alien species in the flora of Bosnia and Herzegovina". Glasnik Hrvatskog botaničkog društva. 6 (2): 20–24.
  6. ^ a b c d Solbrig, O. T.; Newell, Sandra J.; Kincaid, D. T. (1980-07). "The Population Biology of the Genus Viola: I. The Demography of Viola Sororia". The Journal of Ecology. 68 (2): 521. doi:10.2307/2259420. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  7. ^ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  8. ^ a b c d e f "The Native Plant Society of New Jersey". www.npsnj.org. Retrieved 2021-11-12.
  9. ^ "Viola sororia (woolly blue violet): Go Botany". gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org. Retrieved 2021-11-16.
  10. ^ a b Antlfinger, Ann E.; Curtis, William F.; Solbrig, Otto T. (1985-09). "Environmental and Genetic Determinants of Plant Size in Viola sororia". Evolution. 39 (5): 1053. doi:10.2307/2408733. ISSN 0014-3820. {{cite journal}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  11. ^ a b c d e f g May 13, Saara Nafici |; 2016. "Weed of the Month: Common Blue Violet". Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Retrieved 2021-11-16. {{cite web}}: |last2= has numeric name (help)CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "USDA Plants Database". plants.usda.gov. Retrieved 2021-11-18.
  13. ^ a b "Viola sororia - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
  14. ^ a b c d e f Gammans, Nicola; Drummond, Frank; Groden, Eleanor (2018-05-16). "Impacts of the Invasive European Red Ant (Myrmica rubra (L.): Hymenoptera; Formicidae) on a Myrmecochorous System in the Northeastern United States". Environmental Entomology. 47 (4): 908–917. doi:10.1093/ee/nvy069. ISSN 0046-225X.
  15. ^ Thoms, Adam; Pease, Ben (2019-04-26). "Fall Timing of GameOn and Relzar Herbicide Application". Iowa State University Research and Demonstration Farms Progress Reports. 2018 (1).
  16. ^ a b "medicinal herbs: WOOLY BLUE VIOLET - Viola sororia". www.naturalmedicinalherbs.net. Retrieved 2021-11-30.
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