How many petals do violets have

Occurs in rocky or dry open woods, thickets, borders of woods, mostly on hillsides, but also near streams and ponds, in ditches, and in other wet places. It is also found in yards and along roadsides and railroads. It is often cultivated. In the past, some forms of this species were considered a separate species, V.

This one species of violet is also called meadow violet, butterfly violet, woolly blue violet, and downy blue violet. The several other violets in our state also have several common names. This confusing tangle is one reason why botanists prefer to use Neo-Latin scientific names, where only a single two-parted name applies to each species.

Violets have many uses as wild edibles. The flowers can be dipped in stiff egg whites, rolled in sugar, and allowed to dry, to make a striking, decorative confection. The flowers can also be made into jelly, and the leaves and flowers used in green salads. Common Violet. Field Guide Aquatic Invertebrates. Butterflies and Moths. According to legend, Hera became jealous of Io and punished her by turning her into a white calf.

Hera provided the sweet, white violets for Io to graze upon in her transformed state. This connection between the myth and the name of the flowers seems weak and improbable; the Latin derivation is more easily understood. In the United States there are more than species of common spring violets. Violets are flowers with five petals: two pairs of lateral petals and one often with veins of another color. The leaves of violets are usually oval or heart-shaped, which may be lobed.

Due to their almost universally recognized shape, these wildflowers are easy to identify. Because they hybridize freely, however, violets are often difficult to classify. Below are some species of violets native to Minnesota and Saint Olaf College. Canada Violet V. Generally white with a yellow center. This type of violet arises from stolons that run above ground.

Common Blue Violet V. Contrary to its name, this type of violet may be any shade of blue ranging to purple and white These flowers are low growing.

The Common Blue Violet can be distinguished from others by its bottom petal, which is not spurred. Downy Yellow Violet V. This flower is typically yellow with purple veins. Though there may be several flowers per plant, each individual flower grows on its own stalk.

Violets are ideally designed to attract insect pollinators, which aid in fertilization and reproduction. The brightly colored petals, ultraviolet veining, and occasional scent of the flowers attract many flying insects, usually bees. The lower petal has the purple veined white area which acts as a nectar guide. This petal has no hair but is spurred on the back.

The green sepals 2nd photo are long pointed. Below: The leaves are all basal and on long stalks, the shape can vary considerably but is generally heart shaped. The underside 2nd photo is much paler in color and usually has some fine hair. Below: 1st photo - the cleistogamous flower. Below: The thick fleshy root of Blue Violet with leaves rising directly from the root. Below: The Confederate violet variation V.

Eloise Butler catalogued it on May 25, It was planted frequently. She began planting more of it as early as In addition, she obtained plants on Oct. From onwards plantings occurred every year through Martha Crone planted it also, beginning in , then , '48, and ' The plant is native to almost all the counties in Minnesota. It is one of 21 native violets found in the State. In North America the species if found in the eastern half of the continent except for the Canadian Maritime Provinces.

Caterpillars of various Fritallary butterflies feed on the leaves. Eloise Butler wrote extensively about violets - Read her notes. Edna Ferber wrote: "Big doesn't necessarily mean better. Sunflowers aren't better than violets. Dora Read Goodale - wrote this poem about Blue Violets.

Distribution principally from W1, W2 and 28C. Other sources by specific reference. See Reference List for details. Identification booklet for most of the flowering forbs and small flowering shrubs of the Eloise Butler Wildflower Garden. Details Here. Friends of the Wild Flower Garden, Inc. Text and photos are by G.