853 Species of Genus Viola

Table of Contents

A World of Violets: Exploring the Viola Genus

My name is Ferb Vu, and I’ve always been drawn to the delicate beauty and vibrant colors of violets. These seemingly simple flowers, belonging to the genus Viola, hold a fascinating diversity that I’m excited to share with you. From the familiar sweet violet gracing gardens to the lesser-known species thriving in diverse habitats across the globe, the world of Viola is ripe for exploration.

What is Viola?

Viola is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. It’s the largest genus in the family, boasting over 850 recognized species. While many of us associate violets with the temperate Northern Hemisphere, they can be found in surprisingly diverse locations, including Hawaii, Australasia, and even the Andes Mountains. This wide distribution speaks to the adaptability and resilience of this remarkable genus.

Diving into Diversity: Notable Viola Species

Viola abbreviata J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola × aberrans (Greene ex W.Stone) House
Viola abulensis Fern.Casado & Nava
Viola × abundans House
Viola abyssinica Steud. ex Oliv.
Viola acanthophylla Leyb. ex Reiche
Viola accrescens Klokov
Viola acrocerauniensis Erben
Viola acuminata Ledeb.
Viola acutifolia (Kar. & Kir.) W.Becker
Viola adenothrix Hayata
Viola × adulterina Godr.
Viola adunca Sm.
Viola aduncoides Á.Löve & D.Löve
Viola aethnensis (DC.) Strobl
Viola aetolica Boiss. & Heldr.
Viola affinis Leconte
Viola aizoon Reiche
Viola alaica Vved.
Viola alba Besser
Viola albanica Halácsy
Viola albida Palib.
Viola × albimaritima Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola × albovii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola alburnica Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola alexandrowiana (W.Becker) Juz.
Viola alexejana Kamelin & Junussov
Viola allchariensis Beck
Viola alliariifolia Nakai
Viola allochroa Botsch.
Viola alpina Jacq.
Viola altaica Ker Gawl.
Viola amamiana Hatus.
Viola ambigua Waldst. & Kit.
Viola amiatina Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola amurica W.Becker
Viola anagae Gilli
Viola × angelliae Pollard
Viola angkae Craib
Viola angustifolia Phil.
Viola anitae J.M.Watson
Viola annamensis Baker f.
Viola appalachiensis L.K.Henry
Viola araucaniae W.Becker
Viola arborescens L.
Viola argentina W.Becker
Viola arguta Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.
Viola arsenica Beck
Viola arvensis Murray
Viola athois W.Becker
Viola atropurpurea Leyb.
Viola aurantiaca Leyb.
Viola aurata Phil.
Viola auricolor Skottsb.
Viola auricula Leyb.
Viola austrosinensis Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang
Viola austroyunnanensis Y.S.Chen
Viola × awagatakensis T.Yamaz., I.Ito & Ageishi
Viola × bachtschisaraensis Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola bakeri Greene
Viola balansae Gagnep.
Viola balcanica Delip.
Viola × balearica Rosselló, Mayol & Mus
Viola bangii Rusby
Viola banksii K.R.Thiele & Prober
Viola baoshanensis W.S.Shu, W.Liu & C.Y.Lan
Viola barhalensis G.Knoche & Marcussen
Viola barkalovii Bezd.
Viola barroetana W.Schaffn. ex Hemsl.
Viola × bavarica Schrank
Viola baxteri House
Viola beamanii Calderón
Viola beati J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola beckeriana J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola beckiana Fiala ex Beck
Viola beckwithii Torr. & A.Gray
Viola belophylla Boissieu
Viola bertolonii Pio
Viola betonicifolia Sm.
Viola bezdelevae Vorosch.
Viola bhutanica H.Hara
Viola biflora L.
Viola binayensis Okamoto & K.Ueda
Viola × bissellii House
Viola bissetii Maxim.
Viola blanda Willd.
Viola blandiformis Nakai
Viola × blaxlandiae J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola bocquetiana Yıld.
Viola boissieuana Makino
Viola boliviana Britton
Viola brachyceras Turcz.
Viola brachypetala Gay
Viola brachyphylla W.Becker
Viola × braunii Borbás
Viola breviflora Jungsim Lee & M.Kim
Viola brevistipulata (Franch. & Sav.) W.Becker
Viola bridgesii Britton
Viola brittoniana Pollard
Viola bubanii Timb.-Lagr.
Viola bulbosa Maxim.
Viola × burnatii Gremli
Viola bustillosia Gay
Viola × caesariensis House
Viola calabra (A.Terracc.) Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola calcarata L.
Viola calchaquiensis W.Becker
Viola calcicola R.A.McCauley & H.E.Ballard
Viola caleyana G.Don
Viola cameleo H.Boissieu
Viola canadensis L.
Viola canescens Wall.
Viola canina L.
Viola capillaris Pers.
Viola caspia (Rupr.) Freyn
Viola cassinensis Strobl
Viola caucasica Kolen. ex Rupr.
Viola cavillieri W.Becker
Viola cazorlensis Gand.
Viola cenisia L.
Viola cephalonica Bornm.
Viola cerasifolia A.St.-Hil.
Viola cervatiana Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola × cestrica House
Viola chaerophylloides (Regel) W.Becker
Viola chalcosperma Brainerd
Viola chamaedrys Leyb.
Viola chamissoniana Ging.
Viola × champlainensis House
Viola changii J.S.Zhou & F.W.Xing
Viola chaozhouensis Yan S.Huang, J.H.Ding & Q.Fan
Viola charlestonensis M.S.Baker & J.C.Clausen
Viola chassanica Kork.
Viola cheeseana J.M.Watson
Viola cheiranthifolia Bonpl.
Viola chejuensis Y.N.Lee & Y.C.Oh
Viola chelmea Boiss.
Viola chiapasiensis W.Becker
Viola × chrysantha Schrad. ex Rchb.
Viola cilentana Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola cilicica Contandr. & Quézel
Viola cinerea Boiss.
Viola clauseniana M.S.Baker
Viola cleistogamoides (L.G.Adams) Seppelt
Viola cochranei H.E.Ballard
Viola collina Besser
Viola × columbiana House
Viola columnaris Skottsb.
Viola comberi W.Becker
Viola commersonii DC. ex Ging.
Viola communis Pollard
Viola comollia Massara
Viola concordifolia C.J.Wang
Viola confertifolia C.C.Chang
Viola congesta Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.
Viola × conjugens Greene
Viola × consobrina House
Viola × consocia House
Viola × consona House
Viola × contempta Jord.
Viola × conturbata House
Viola × convicta House
Viola × cooperrideri H.E.Ballard
Viola × cordifolia (Nutt.) Schwein.
Viola cornuta L.
Viola coronifera W.Becker
Viola corralensis Phil.
Viola corsica Nyman
Viola cotyledon Ging.
Viola crassa Makino
Viola crassifolia Fenzl
Viola crassiuscula Bory
Viola × crassula Greene
Viola cuatrecasasii L.B.Sm. & A.Fernández
Viola cucullata Aiton
Viola cuicochensis Hieron.
Viola culminis F.Fen. & Moraldo
Viola cuneata S.Watson
Viola cunninghamii Hook.f.
Viola curtisiae (L.G.Adams) K.R.Thiele
Viola cuspidifolia W.Becker
Viola czemalensis Zuev
Viola dacica Borbás
Viola dactyloides Schult.
Viola dalatensis Gagnep.
Viola dandoisiorum J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola danielae Pînzaru
Viola dasyphylla W.Becker
Viola davidii Franch.
Viola × davisii House
Viola decipiens Reiche
Viola declinata Waldst. & Kit.
Viola decumbens L.f.
Viola dehnhardtii Ten.
Viola delavayi Franch.
Viola delphinantha Boiss.
Viola demetria Prolongo ex Boiss.
Viola denizliensis O.D.Düșen, Göktürk, U.Sarpkaya & B.Gürcan
Viola diamantiaca Nakai
Viola dichroa Boiss.
Viola diffusa Ging.
Viola × dimissa House
Viola dimorphophylla Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang
Viola dirimliensis Blaxland
Viola dirphya Tiniakou
Viola × discors House
Viola disjuncta W.Becker
Viola dissecta Ledeb.
Viola × dissena House
Viola × dissita House
Viola diversifolia (DC.) W.Becker
Viola doerfleri Degen
Viola × doii Taken.
Viola dombeyana DC. ex Ging.
Viola domeikoana Gay
Viola domestica E.P.Bicknell
Viola douglasii Steud.
Viola dubyana Burnat ex Gremli
Viola duclouxii W.Becker
Viola dukadjinica W.Becker & Košanin
Viola dyris Maire
Viola × eamesii House
Viola × eclipes H.E.Ballard
Viola ecuadorensis W.Becker
Viola edulis Spach
Viola × egglestoniana House
Viola egglestonii Brainerd
Viola × egregia House
Viola eizanensis (Makino) Makino
Viola × eizasieboldii Sugim. ex T.Shimizu
Viola elatior Fr.
Viola elegantula Schott
Viola emarginata (Nutt.) Leconte
Viola eminens K.R.Thiele & Prober
Viola eminii (Engl.) R.E.Fr.
Viola enmae P.Gonzáles
Viola epipsila Ledeb.
Viola epirota (Halácsy) Raus
Viola eriocarpa Schwein.
Viola ermenekensis Yıld. & Dinç
Viola × erratica House
Viola erythraea (Fiori) Chiov.
Viola escarapela J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola escondidaensis W.Becker
Viola etrusca Erben
Viola euboea (Halácsy) Halácsy
Viola eugeniae Parl.
Viola evae Hieron. ex W.Becker
Viola × excerpta House
Viola eximia Formánek
Viola exsul J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola falconeri Hook.f. & Thomson
Viola × fallacissima Greene
Viola farkasiana J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola faurieana W.Becker
Viola × fennica F.Nyl.
Viola ferdinandea Pisani, Moraldo & Ricceri
Viola × fernaldii House
Viola ferrarinii Moraldo & Ricceri
Viola ferreyrae P.Gonzáles
Viola × festata House
Viola filicaulis Hook.f.
Viola × filicetorum Greene
Viola filiformis Charit.
Viola fimbriatula Sm.
Viola fischeri W.Becker
Viola flagelliformis Hemsl.
Viola flavicans Wedd.
Viola flettii Piper
Viola floridana Brainerd
Viola flos-idae Hieron.
Viola fluehmannii Phil.
Viola formosana Hayata
Viola forrestiana W.Becker
Viola fragrans Sieber
Viola frank-smithii N.H.Holmgren
Viola friderici W.Becker
Viola frigida Phil.
Viola frondosa (Velen.) Velen.
Viola frusinatae Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola fruticosa W.Becker
Viola × fujisanensis S.Watan.
Viola fuscifolia W.Becker
Viola fuscoviolacea (L.G.Adams) T.A.James
Viola galeanaensis M.S.Baker
Viola × ganeschinii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola ganiatsasii Erben
Viola gaviolii Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola gelida J.M.Watson, M.P.Cárdenas & A.R.Flores
Viola germainii Sparre
Viola glabella Nutt.
Viola glaberrima (Ging. ex Chapm.) House
Viola glandularis H.E.Ballard & P.M.Jørg.
Viola glechomoides Leyb.
Viola gmeliniana Schult.
Viola godoyae Phil.
Viola × gotlandica W.Becker
Viola gracilis Sm.
Viola gracillima A.St.-Hil.
Viola graeca (W.Becker) Halácsy
Viola grahamii Benth.
Viola × grandis Greene
Viola grandisepala W.Becker
Viola granulosa Wedd.
Viola grayi Franch. & Sav.
Viola × greatrexii Nakai & F.Maek.
Viola × greenei House
Viola × greenmanii House
Viola × gremblichii Murr
Viola grisea (Fernald) H.E.Ballard
Viola grisebachiana Vis.
Viola × grubovii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola grypoceras A.Gray
Viola guadalupensis A.M.Powell & Wauer
Viola guangzhouensis A.Q.Dong, J.S.Zhou & F.W.Xing
Viola guatemalensis W.Becker
Viola guaxarensis M.Marrero, Docoito Díaz & Martín Esquivel
Viola × halacsyana Degen & Dörfl.
Viola hallii A.Gray
Viola hamiltoniana D.Don
Viola hancockii W.Becker
Viola hastata Michx.
Viola × haynaldii Wiesb.
Viola hederacea Labill.
Viola hediniana W.Becker
Viola heldreichiana Boiss.
Viola helena C.N.Forbes & Lydgate
Viola hemsleyana Calderón
Viola henriquesii (Willk. ex Cout.) W.Becker
Viola henryi H.Boissieu
Viola herzogii (W.Becker) Bornm.
Viola × heterocarpa Borbás
Viola heyuanensis Yan S.Huang, Q.L.Ye & Q.Fan
Viola hieronymi W.Becker
Viola hillii W.Becker
Viola hirsutula Brainerd
Viola hirta L.
Viola × hirtiformis Wiesb.
Viola hirtipes S.Moore
Viola hispida Lam.
Viola hissarica Juz.
Viola × hollickii House
Viola × holmiana House
Viola hondoensis W.Becker & H.Boissieu
Viola hookeri Thomson
Viola hookeriana Kunth
Viola howellii A.Gray
Viola huesoensis Martic.
Viola huidobrii Gay
Viola huizhouensis Y.S.Huang & Q.Fan
Viola hultenii W.Becker
Viola humilis Kunth
Viola × hungarica Degen & Sabr.
Viola hybanthoides W.B.Liao & Q.Fan
Viola hymettia Boiss. & Heldr.
Viola × hyrcanica Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola × ibukiana Makino
Viola × igoschinae Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola ilvensis (W.Becker) Arrigoni
Viola improcera L.G.Adams
Viola incisa Turcz.
Viola × incissecta Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola incognita Brainerd
Viola inconspicua Blume
Viola indica W.Becker
Viola × indivisa Greene
Viola ingolensis Elisafenko
Viola × insessa House
Viola × insolita House
Viola × interjecta Borbás
Viola × intersita Beck
Viola ircutiana Turcz.
Viola isaurica Contandr. & Quézel
Viola × iselensis W.Becker
Viola isopetala Juz.
Viola ivonis Erben
Viola iwagawae Makino
Viola × jagellonica Zapał.
Viola jalapaensis W.Becker
Viola jangiensis W.Becker
Viola japonica Langsd. ex Ging.
Viola jaubertiana Marès & Vigin.
Viola javanica W.Becker
Viola × jindoensis M.Kim
Viola jinggangshanensis Z.L.Ning & J.P.Liao
Viola jizushanensis S.H.Huang
Viola × joannis-wagneri Kárpáti
Viola joergensenii W.Becker
Viola johnstonii W.Becker
Viola jooi Janka
Viola jordanii Hanry
Viola × josephii J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola × juzepczukii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola kamtschadalorum W.Becker & Hultén
Viola × karakulensis Vl.V.Nikitin & O.Baranova
Viola kauaensis A.Gray
Viola keiskei Miq.
Viola kermesina W.Becker
Viola × kerneri Wiesb.
Viola × kisoana Nakai
Viola kitaibeliana Schult.
Viola kitamiana Nakai
Viola kizildaghensis Dinç & Yıld.
Viola kjellbergii Melch.
Viola × klingeana Ronniger
Viola kopaonikensis Pančić ex Tomović & Niketić
Viola kosanensis Hayata
Viola kosaninii (Degen) Hayek
Viola kouliana Bhellum & Magotra
Viola × kozo-poljanskii Grosset
Viola × krascheninnikoviorum Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola kunawarensis Royle
Viola kusanoana Makino
Viola kusnezowiana W.Becker
Viola labradorica Schrank
Viola × lacmonica Hausskn.
Viola lactea Sm.
Viola lactiflora Nakai
Viola lainzii P.Monts.
Viola lanaiensis W.Becker
Viola lanceolata L.
Viola langeana Valentine
Viola langloisii Greene
Viola langsdorffii Fisch. ex Ging.
Viola lanifera W.Becker
Viola laricicola Marcussen
Viola latistipula Hemsl.
Viola latiuscula Greene
Viola × lavandulacea E.P.Bicknell
Viola lehmannii W.Becker
Viola × lesmehrhoffii A.Haines
Viola leyboldiana Phil.
Viola libanotica Boiss.
Viola lilliputana Iltis & H.E.Ballard
Viola lilloana W.Becker
Viola limbarae (Merxm. & W.Lippert) Arrigoni
Viola lithion N.H.Holmgren & P.K.Holmgren
Viola × litoralis Spreng.
Viola livonica Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola llullaillacoensis W.Becker
Viola lobata Benth.
Viola lologensis (W.Becker) J.M.Watson
Viola longibracteolata P.Gonzáles, Ed.Navarro & J.M.Watson
Viola longipetiolata Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola longissima Yan S.Huang & Q.Fan
Viola lovelliana Brainerd
Viola lucens W.Becker
Viola × luciae Skottsb.
Viola lungtungensis S.S.Ying
Viola lutea Huds.
Viola × lutzii E.G.Camus
Viola lyallii Hook.f.
Viola macloskeyi F.E.Lloyd
Viola macroceras Bunge
Viola maculata Cav.
Viola magellanica G.Forst.
Viola magellensis Porta & Rigo ex Strobl
Viola magnifica C.J.Wang & X.D.Wang
Viola majchurensis Pissjauk.
Viola × malteana House
Viola mandonii W.Becker
Viola mandshurica W.Becker
Viola maoershanensis Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang
Viola marcelaferreyrae Nicola, J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola marcelorosasii J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola × markgrafii W.Becker
Viola maroccana (Maire) Maire
Viola × marylandica House
Viola × matczkasensis Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola matronae Stepanov
Viola mauritii Tepl.
Viola maviensis H.Mann
Viola maximowicziana Makino
Viola maymanica Grey-Wilson
Viola mearnsii Merr.
Viola × melissifolia Greene
Viola membranacea W.Becker
Viola × menitzkii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola mercurii Orph. ex Halácsy
Viola merrilliana W.Becker
Viola merxmuelleri Erben
Viola mesadensis W.Becker
Viola miaolingensis Y.S.Chen
Viola micranthella Wedd.
Viola microcentra W.Becker
Viola microphylla Phil.
Viola milanae Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola minuscula Greene
Viola minuta M.Bieb.
Viola minutiflora Phil.
Viola mirabilis L.
Viola missouriensis Greene
Viola × mistura House
Viola × mixta A.Kern.
Viola modesta Fenzl
Viola × modica House
Viola molisana Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola × mollicula House
Viola monacanora J.L.Hastings & H.E.Ballard
Viola mongolica Franch.
Viola montagnei Gay
Viola montcaunica Pau
Viola × montivaga House
Viola moupinensis Franch.
Viola mucronulifera Hand.-Mazz.
Viola muehldorfii Kiss
Viola × mulfordiae Pollard
Viola muliensis Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang
Viola munbyana Boiss. & Reut.
Viola murronensis Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola muscoides Phil.
Viola nagasawae Makino & Hayata
Viola × najadum Wein
Viola nana (DC. ex Ging.) Le Jol.
Viola nanlingensis J.S.Zhou & F.W.Xing
Viola nannae R.E.Fr.
Viola nannei Pol.
Viola nassauvioides Phil.
Viola nebrodensis C.Presl
Viola × neglectiformis Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola nemoralis Kütz.
Viola nephrophylla Greene
Viola × nephrophylloides Farw.
Viola niederleinii W.Becker
Viola × nikitinii Vasjukov
Viola nitida Y.S.Chen & Q.E.Yang
Viola nobilis W.Becker
Viola × notabilis E.P.Bicknell
Viola novae-angliae House
Viola nubigena Leyb.
Viola nuda W.Becker
Viola nujiangensis Y.S.Chen & X.H.Jin
Viola nummulariifolia Vill.
Viola nuttallii Pursh
Viola oahuensis C.N.Forbes
Viola obituaria J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola oblonga Blatt.
Viola obtusa (Makino) Makino
Viola × obtusoacuminata T.Hashim. ex T.Shimizu
Viola × obtusogrypoceras Makino
Viola occulta Lehm.
Viola ocellata Torr. & A.Gray
Viola odontocalycina Boiss.
Viola odorata L.
Viola × oenipontana Murr
Viola × ogawae Nakai
Viola × okuharae F.Maek. ex T.Shimizu
Viola × olimpia Beggiat.
Viola orbelica Pančić
Viola orbiculata (A.Gray) Geyer ex B.D.Jacks.
Viola oreades M.Bieb.
Viola orientalis (Maxim.) W.Becker
Viola ornata P.Gonzáles, Montesinos & J.M.Watson
Viola orphanidis Boiss.
Viola orthoceras Ledeb.
Viola ovalleana Phil.
Viola ovato-oblonga (Miq.) Makino
Viola oxyodontis H.E.Ballard
Viola pachyrrhiza Boiss. & Hohen.
Viola pachysoma M.Sheader & J.M.Watson
Viola pacifica Juz.
Viola painteri Rose & House
Viola palatina Y.N.Lee
Viola pallascaensis W.Becker
Viola palmata L.
Viola palmensis (Webb & Berthel.) Sauer
Viola palustris L.
Viola papuana W.Becker & Pulle
Viola paradoxa Lowe
Viola × parca House
Viola parnonia Kit Tan, Sfikas & Vold
Viola parvula Tineo
Viola patrinii Ging.
Viola × peckiana House
Viola pectinata E.P.Bicknell
Viola pedata L.
Viola pedatifida G.Don
Viola pedunculata Torr. & A.Gray
Viola pekinensis (Regel) W.Becker
Viola pendulicarpa W.Becker
Viola pentadactyla Fenzl
Viola perinensis W.Becker
Viola × perplexa Gremli
Viola perpusilla Boissieu
Viola perreniformis (L.G.Adams) R.J.Little & Leiper
Viola petraea W.Becker
Viola phalacrocarpa Maxim.
Viola philippiana Greene
Viola philippica Cav.
Viola phitosiana Erben
Viola pilosa Blume
Viola pilushanensis S.S.Ying
Viola pinetorum Greene
Viola pinnata L.
Viola pitouchaoensis S.S.Ying
Viola placida W.Becker
Viola × pluricaulis Borbás
Viola pluviae Marcussen, H.E.Ballard & Blaxland
Viola × poelliana Murr
Viola poetica Boiss. & Spruner
Viola polycephala H.E.Ballard & P.M.Jørg.
Viola polypoda Turcz.
Viola × polysecta Nakai
Viola × popovae Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola × populifolia Greene
Viola × porphyrea R.Uechtr.
Viola portalesia Gay
Viola × porteriana Pollard
Viola portulacea Leyb.
Viola praemorsa Douglas
Viola pratincola Greene
Viola × preywischiana Nauenb.
Viola primulifolia L.
Viola principis Boissieu
Viola prionantha Bunge
Viola producta W.Becker
Viola pseudaetolica Tomović, Melovski & Niketić
Viola pseudograeca Erben
Viola × pseudomakinoi M.Mizush. ex T.Shimizu
Viola pubescens Aiton
Viola pubipetala S.S.Ying
Viola pulvinata Reiche
Viola pumila Chaix
Viola purpurea Kellogg
Viola pusilla Poepp.
Viola pusillima Wedd.
Viola pygmaea Juss. ex Poir.
Viola × pynzarii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola pyrenaica Ramond ex DC.
Viola qingruii Yan S.Huang & Q.Fan
Viola quercetorum M.S.Baker & J.C.Clausen
Viola raddeana Regel
Viola rafinesquei Greene
Viola ramiflora K.O.Yoo
Viola ramosiana W.Becker
Viola rauliniana Erben
Viola × raunsiensis W.Becker & Košanin
Viola rausii Erben
Viola × ravida House
Viola × redacta House
Viola regina J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola reichei Skottsb. ex Macloskie
Viola reichenbachiana Jord. ex Boreau
Viola renifolia A.Gray
Viola replicata W.Becker
Viola × reschetnikovae Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola retusa Greene
Viola rheophila Okamoto
Viola rhodopeia W.Becker
Viola rhombifolia Leyb.
Viola × ritschliana W.Becker
Viola riviniana Rchb.
Viola × robinsoniana House
Viola roccabrunensis Espeut
Viola rodriguezii W.Becker
Viola roigii Rossow
Viola rosacea Brainerd
Viola rossii Hemsl.
Viola rossowiana J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola rostrata Muhl. ex Pursh
Viola rosulata Poepp. & Endl.
Viola rotundifolia Michx.
Viola rubella Cav.
Viola rubromarginata J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola rudolfii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola rudolphii Sparre
Viola rugosa Phil. ex W.Becker
Viola rugulosa Greene
Viola × rupestriformis Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola rupestris F.W.Schmidt
Viola rupicola Elmer
Viola × ryoniae House
Viola saccata Melch.
Viola sacchalinensis H.Boissieu
Viola sacculus Skottsb.
Viola sagittata Aiton
Viola samothracica (Degen) Raus
Viola sandaiojiaoensis S.S.Ying
Viola sandrasea Melch.
Viola santiagonensis W.Becker
Viola × savatieri Makino
Viola saxifraga Maire
Viola × scabra F.Braun
Viola scandens Humb. & Bonpl. ex Schult.
Viola schachimardanica Khalk.
Viola schariensis Erben
Viola × schauloi Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola scopulorum (A.Gray) Greene
Viola scorpiuroides Coss.
Viola seleriana W.Becker
Viola selkirkii Pursh ex Goldie
Viola sempervirens Greene
Viola sempervivum Gay
Viola × semseyana Borbás
Viola senzanensis Hayata
Viola septemloba Leconte
Viola septentrionalis Greene
Viola sequeirae Capelo, R.Jardim, J.C.Costa, Lousã & Rivas Mart.
Viola × sermenika Formánek
Viola serpentinicola de Salas
Viola serresiana Erben
Viola sfikasiana Erben
Viola shaoyoukengensis S.S.Ying
Viola sheltonii Torr.
Viola shikokiana Makino
Viola shinchikuensis Yamam.
Viola shiweii Xiao C.Li & Zheng W.Wang
Viola sieberiana Spreng.
Viola sieboldii Maxim.
Viola sieheana W.Becker
Viola sikkimensis W.Becker
Viola silicestris K.R.Thiele & Prober
Viola singularis J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola sintenisii W.Becker
Viola sirinica Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola × skofitziana Wiesb.
Viola skottsbergiana W.Becker
Viola × slavinii House
Viola somchetica K.Koch
Viola sororia Willd.
Viola spathulata Willd. ex Schult.
Viola speciosa Pant.
Viola spegazzinii W.Becker
Viola sphaerocarpa W.Becker
Viola stagnina Kit. ex Schult.
Viola steinbachii W.Becker
Viola stewardiana W.Becker
Viola stipularis Sw.
Viola stocksii Boiss.
Viola stojanowii W.Becker
Viola stoloniflora Yokota & Higa
Viola stoneana House
Viola striata Aiton
Viola striatella H.Boissieu
Viola striis-notata (J.Wagner) Merxm. & W.Lippert
Viola stuebelii Hieron.
Viola suavis M.Bieb.
Viola subandina J.M.Watson
Viola subarenosa Charit.
Viola subasica (Fiori) Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola subatlantica (Maire) Ibn Tattou
Viola subdimidiata A.St.-Hil.
Viola × sublanceolata House
Viola subsinuata (Greene) Greene
Viola suecica Fr.
Viola × sukaczewii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola sumatrana Miq.
Viola szetschwanensis W.Becker & H.Boissieu
Viola taltalensis W.Becker
Viola tanaitica Grosset
Viola × taradakensis Nakai
Viola tarbagataica Klokov
Viola tashiroi Makino
Viola tatjanae Stepanov
Viola tectiflora W.Becker
Viola tenuipes Pollard
Viola tenuisecta Zumwalde & H.E.Ballard
Viola tenuissima C.C.Chang
Viola teplouchovii Juz.
Viola teshioensis Miyabe & Tatew.
Viola thasia W.Becker
Viola thianschanica Maxim.
Viola thibaudieri Franch. & Sav.
Viola thomasiana Songeon & E.P.Perrier
Viola thomsonii Oudem.
Viola thymifolia Britton
Viola tienschiensis W.Becker
Viola × tigirekica Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola tineorum Erben & Raimondo
Viola tokaiensis Sugim. ex N.Yamada & Igari
Viola tokubuchiana Makino
Viola tomentosa M.S.Baker & J.C.Clausen
Viola × torslundensis W.Becker
Viola tovarii P.Gonzáles & Molina-Alor
Viola triangulifolia W.Becker
Viola trichopetala C.C.Chang
Viola trichosepala (W.Becker) Juz.
Viola tricolor L.
Viola tridentata Sm.
Viola triflabellata W.Becker
Viola trinervata (Howell) Howell ex A.Gray
Viola tripartita Elliott
Viola trochlearis J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola truncata Meyen
Viola tucumanensis W.Becker
Viola turkestanica Regel & Schmalh.
Viola turritella J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola × tuvinica Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola × tzvelevii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola ucriana Erben & Raimondo
Viola × uechtritziana Borbás
Viola uliginosa Besser
Viola umbraticola Kunth
Viola umphangensis S.Nansai, Srisanga & Suwanph.
Viola uniflora L.
Viola uniquissima J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola unwinii W.Becker
Viola urophylla Franch.
Viola utahensis M.S.Baker & J.C.Clausen
Viola utchinensis Koidz.
Viola vadimii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola vaginata Maxim.
Viola valderia All.
Viola vallenarensis W.Becker
Viola vallicola A.Nelson
Viola vanroyenii H.St.John
Viola variegata Fisch. ex Link
Viola vectoris Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola velutina Formánek
Viola × venustula Greene
Viola × vermontana House
Viola veronicifolia Planch. & Linden
Viola viarum Pollard
Viola × viatkensis Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola × villaquensis Benz
Viola villosa Walter
Viola × vilnaensis W.Becker
Viola × vindobonensis Wiesb.
Viola violacea Makino
Viola vittata Greene
Viola volcanica Gillies ex Hook. & Arn.
Viola voliotisii Erben
Viola vorobievii Bezd.
Viola vourinensis Erben
Viola vulturis Ricceri & Moraldo
Viola wailenalenae (Rock) Skottsb.
Viola wallichiana Ging.
Viola walteri House
Viola wansanensis Y.N.Lee
Viola weberbaueri W.Becker
Viola websteri Hemsl.
Viola weibelii J.F.Macbr.
Viola × wilczekiana Beauverd
Viola × wilhelmii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola × wilibaldii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola willkommii R.Roem. ex Willk.
Viola woosanensis Y.N.Lee & J.Kim
Viola woroschilovii Bezd.
Viola × wujekii H.E.Ballard
Viola wulinfarmensis S.S.Ying
Viola wulingensis S.S.Ying
Viola xanthopotamica J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola xibaoensis S.S.Ying
Viola yazawana Makino
Viola yezoensis Maxim.
Viola yildirimlii Dinç & Bağcı
Viola yrameae J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores
Viola yunnanensis W.Becker & H.Boissieu
Viola yunnanfuensis W.Becker
Viola × yurii Vl.V.Nikitin
Viola yuzufelensis A.P.Khokhr.
Viola × zophodes K.R.Thiele & Prober
Viola × zwienenii J.M.Watson & A.R.Flores

Beyond the Basics: Unique Characteristics of Viola

While we often appreciate violets for their aesthetic appeal, they possess several fascinating features that contribute to their success:

Cleistogamy: Many Viola species exhibit cleistogamy, meaning they produce flowers that never open but still self-fertilize. This ensures seed production even in unfavorable conditions for pollination.
Seed Dispersal: Violets have evolved unique seed dispersal mechanisms. Some species have explosive capsules that launch seeds away from the plant, while others rely on ants to carry their seeds to new locations.
Hybrid Vigor: Viola species readily hybridize, leading to new variations and increased genetic diversity. This contributes to their adaptability and ability to colonize new environments.

The Importance of Viola

Beyond their ornamental value, Viola species play essential roles in their ecosystems:

Food Source: Violets serve as a food source for various insects, including butterflies and moths. Their nectar and pollen are crucial for pollinators.
Medicinal Uses: Some Viola species have traditional medicinal uses. For example, Viola odorata has been used to treat respiratory ailments and skin conditions.
Ecological Indicators: The presence or absence of certain Viola species can indicate the health of an ecosystem, as they are sensitive to environmental changes.

Conservation and Cultivation

While many Viola species are common and widespread, some face threats due to habitat loss and degradation. Conservation efforts are crucial to protect these vulnerable species.

Cultivating violets can be a rewarding experience. They are relatively easy to grow in gardens, providing beautiful blooms and attracting pollinators. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or a beginner, consider adding some Viola species to your garden and contribute to their preservation.

A Continuing Fascination

The world of Viola is vast and captivating. From the delicate beauty of their flowers to their unique adaptations and ecological significance, there’s always something new to discover about these remarkable plants. As I continue to explore the diversity and complexity of this genus, I’m filled with a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world.

I encourage you to delve deeper into the world of Viola. Observe the violets in your local parks and gardens, learn about their unique characteristics, and consider contributing to their conservation. By appreciating and protecting these remarkable plants, we can ensure that future generations will continue to enjoy their beauty and ecological importance.