Viola pubescens (Downy Yellow Violet) on 4-18-20, #689-13.

Violaceae Batsch

vy-oh-LAY-see-ee
OR
vee-oh-LAY-see-ee

The plant family Violaceae Batsch was named and described by August Johann Georg Karl Batsch in Tabula Affinitatum Regni Vegetabilis in 1802 (as Violariae).

As of 12-30-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online by Kew lists 24 accepted genera in this family named after the genus Viola. 

I have identified several Viola species on the farm but I am not familiar with the other genera. You can click on the plant’s name under the photos to go to their own pages…

For more information about this family of plants, please click on the links below. The links take you directly to the information about the family.

PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE
FLORA OF NORTH AMERICA
WIKIPEDIA
BRITANNICA

Viola rafinesquei (American Field Pansy) on 4-11-20, #686-73.

I found several Viola rafinesquei (American Field Pansy) in an area where I used to store hay for the winter. I only found this species in 2020 and really haven’t looked for it since. Some websites and databases use the scientific name Viola bicolor Pursh and some use the name Viola rafinesquei Green but they are the same species. There have been three different species named Viola bicolor by different botanists, and Plants of the World Online lists them as synonyms of other species. This species is the only annual Viola sp. that produces cleistogamous (self-pollinating) flowers, but the Missouri Plants website says that rarely happens in Missouri where I live.

<<<<+>>>>

Viola missouriensis (Missouri Violet) on 4-13-20, #687-3.

There are a few small colonies of Viola missouriensis Missouri Violet) under a couple of Chinese Elms behind the chicken house. As with all Violets, they are a nice spring flower. I noticed the neighbor across the street has a good-sized colony next to his garage.

<<<<+>>>>

Viola pubescens (Downy Yellow Violet) on 5-3-20, #695-64.

There are several Viola pubescens (Downy Yellow Violet) growing along the creek behind my farm. I found some with fruit in a friend’s secluded woods in 2020. They look like little balls of cotton. They are also very interesting because they have yellow flowers.

<<<<+>>>>

Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet) on 4-12-15, #237-8.

There are A LOT of Viola sororia (Common Blue Violet) growing in the yard on my farm. They were also growing in my backyard when I lived in Mississippi. I always let them grow wherever they want… Common names include Common Blue Violet, Hooded Blue Violet, Meadow Violet, Sister Violet, and possibly others.

<<<<+>>>>

Viola striata (Cream Violet) on 4-29-22, #875-38.

At last I found a Viola striata (Cream Violet) in 2022. Guess where? Right in the flower bed on the north side of the house next to the Hosta ‘Empress Wu’. Viola striata is the only white-flowered stemmed (caulescent) Viola found in Missouri. Common names include Cream Violet, Creamy Violet, Pale Violet, Striped Cream Violet, Striped White Violet, and likely others.

That’s all I have for now in this family of plants.