Flowers and foliage March 2008

[gote]

Katherine,
I thought I had violas in my grass.
I have nothing compared with this. Fantastic.
By the way, do you know what they are. Odoratas?
It looks like more than one kind.
Göte

[Katherine J]

I also think there are more than one species (or subspecies?). Some are odorata, maybe, but I don't know violas so good. And there are also white forms. Or this is a different species (Viola alba, like Gerd said)? Tomorrow morning I will look a little better.
Here it is a white:

[Maggi Young]

Kata, these violas are the prettiest carpet I have seen in ages.... so unusual to me. Are there many places where the violas grow like this ?

[Gerdk]

I also think there are more than one species (or subspecies?). Some are odorata, maybe, but I don't know violas so good. And there are also white forms. Or this is a different species (Viola alba, like Gerd said)? Tomorrow morning I will look a little better.
Here it is a white:

Kathrine,
Maybe I am somewhat overhasty with my determination - white violets aren't Viola alba usually! Maybe it could be a white Viola odorata. Scent doesn't help, both species are fragrant 
Viola odorata: Leaves round at tip, runners with roots
Viola alba: leaves pointed at tip, runners without roots
See: http://blumeninschwaben.de/
- go to ' Veilchen '
There are good pictures!

Gerd

[Katherine J]

Maggi,
this is an exceptional year (at least in our garden), never were so many. In the woods there aren't manier as usual.

Gerd,
thank you very very much for this excellent website. It is very good for identifying. I can read german  , I have only to see what has to be seen on the living plants  .

So, I made an inspection in the garden.
I think there are mostly V. odorata vith many colour variations.
BUT, see the stipules here. Maybe this is alba. I've googled a little in the hungarian websites and my books, and they say that V. alba is quite frequent in the gardens here.
Sorry, I don't want to bore you much longer, but as long as you are a Viola expert, don't let you escape easiy  .

[gote]

Kathrine,
Some thirtyfive years ago, I was taking a stop when driving on a small road. I stretched my legs and went into a meadow close to the road. I noticed Trollius europeus in abundance and a small white viola. The Trollius is protected and being a good boy I did not touch them. I did, however, take a piece of a white violet. Next year I passed the same spot. The owner had now a field of oats. No Trollius, no violas only Avena sativa.
This is the way protection sometimes works.  The Trollius is gone but I still have the white violets.
I am no expert on violas but I believe it is Viola canina in albino form and it looks very much like yours.
Göte

[Katherine J]

Göte,
they say that on the V. canina the spur is yellowish-green, and the leaves are much longer then wide (http://blumeninschwaben.de/Zweikeimblaettrige/Veilchengewaechse/veilchen.htm#8). I don't think my are canina.

[gote]

Catherine,
You are right! Yours is not canina. I learn a little every day.

Gerd
I also say Danke Schön for pointing at this excellent site.

Göte

[Gerdk]

Kathrine,
If you can read German: Hüte dich vor selbsternannten Experten !

Nevertheless your violet most probably is Viola alba ssp. scotophylla. Unfortunately alba and odorata are very close and hybrids are frequent where both do co-occure. If you don't find rooted runners alba is ok.

Göte:
Your violet is different -  probably canina. Kathrines violet is hairy.
May I ask you for some seeds of this unusual plant?-

Gerd

[Katherine J]

No Trollius, no violas only Avena sativa.
This is the way protection sometimes works. 

It is very sad. And interesting, that many people here in Hungary think that things like this don't happen in Western-Europe.

[Katherine J]

Hüte dich vor selbsternannten Experten !

I don't think so.  Self education needs more work and although has many pitfalls, sometimes is more effective.

[Ed Alverson]

We have Viola odorata in Oregon as an introduced species growing in lawns, especially where shady.  At least I have always called it V. odorata, but now I am wondering if there may be several introduced species here.  My plants really only have a faint fragrance, not like a plant called "odorata" should have.  They also flower very early, usually February and early March in our mild-winter climate.  We distinguish V. odorata from native purple violets by the style which is hooked downward, in contrast to V. adunca and other natives that have a straight style.  Do the other species of European violets related to V. odorata also have a hooked style?

Ed

[Lesley Cox]

Now if Thomas and Armin were to plant violas over their crocuses, instead of grass........ WOW!!!

[gote]

Gerd
Selbstverständlich Oops I mean of course you can have seed.
They set seed that germinate reliably in the summer after the main flowering.
But please remind me again in July. Otherwise i will forget.
Göte

[Gerdk]

Göte,
Vielen Dank - oh sorry - Thanks a lot - I'll pm you then 

Gerd