3-91 Violaceae, violet family

Marian C. Munro; Ruth E. Newell; Nicholas M. Hill

Authors

Marian C. Munro Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS
Ruth E. Newell E. C. Smith Herbarium, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia
Nicholas M. Hill Fernhill Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia; Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Keywords:

Magnoliophyte, violet family, dicots, Viola, pansy, violet, johnny-jump-up

Abstract

Known by most as one of our earliest spring wild flowers, the violets are our single genus of a family with 800 species worldwide, divided into 16 genera. Typically, the flowers are perfect, but irregular and five-merous. Lowermost petal is modified into a spur. Lower two stamens have a spurlike nectary on the dorsal surface. Sepals are persistent. Fruit is a capsule. Leaves are alternate or whorled, toothed or lobed. Nova scotia material requires flowers for certain identification.Photo use donated by Martin Thomas, Ross Hall, Marian Munro, Sean Blaney, David Mazerolle, Alain Belliveau, and Andy Dean.

Author Biographies

Marian C. Munro, Nova Scotia Museum, Halifax, NS

Curator of Botany (NSPM)

Ruth E. Newell, E. C. Smith Herbarium, Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia

Curator of the E. C. Smith Herbarium (ACAD)

Nicholas M. Hill, Fernhill Institute, Kentville, Nova Scotia; Acadia University, Wolfville, Nova Scotia and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Director; Adjunct Professor