YELLOW VIOLET
Many people think of Violets (Genus Viola) as having only blue or purple flowers.
However, there are many Violet species that have flowers of different colors. One of
those species is the Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens Aiton).
Violets are members of the Order Malpighiales, the Family Violaceae, the Subfamily
Violoideae, and the Tribe Violeae. The generic name, Viola, is Latin for “violet”. The
specific epithet, pubescens, is Latin for “downy”, “hairy”, or “pubescent”.
Other scientific names for this species have been Viola pensylvanica Michaux, Viola
eriocarpa Schweinitz, Viola scabriuscula Torrey and A. Gray, and Viola leiocarpa
Fernald and Wiegand. After all of these species were consolidated into 1 species, these
other species became subspecies.
The common name, Violet, probably originated in Greek mythology. Io (or Ione) was a
Grecian nymph who was in love with the Greek god Zeus. Zeus changed Io into a white
heifer before his jealous wife, Hera, discovered her. (Some versions have said that the
jealous Hera had changed Io into the white heifer.) Because the grass irritated Io’s throat,
she began to cry. Zeus felt sorry for her and converted her teardrops upon the ground into
flowers, which were pleasing to her throat. These flowers were named Viola after Io.
Other common names for this species have been Common Yellow Violet, Downy Yellow
Violet, Smooth Yellow Violet, Wild Yellow Violet, and Yellow Forest Violet.
DESCRIPTION OF THE YELLOW VIOLET
Perennial
Height: Its height is 4-24 inches. It begins as a low plant but grows taller as it matures.
Stem: Its stem is erect and is either smooth or hairy. There may be 1-4 stems per plant.
Both the stem leaves and the flowers are found upon the stem
Leaves: Its leaves are either basal or are stemmed and alternate. There may be 2-4 stem
leaves near the top of the stem and 1-8 basal leaves. However, not every plant has basal
leaves.
Each leaf is smooth or hairy; veined; about 1-5 inches long and broad; cordated (heartshaped), reniformed (kidney-shaped), rounded, broadly triangular, or broadly ovate; and
has 25-45 finely scalloped, toothed margins. Its base is either cordated or truncated and
its tip is short and pointed.
The stem leaves have short petioles and the basal leaves have long petioles. The bases
of the petiole have ovate or lanceolate stipules that have entire, fringed, or toothed
margins.
Eastern Cottontail Rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus J.A. Allen) and White-tailed Deer
(Odocoileus virginianus Zimmermann) eat these leaves.
Flowers: Its flowers are clear yellow, nodding, and are arranged solitarily. Each flower is
located atop a flower stem that emerges from an upper leaf axil. Each flower stem has 2
tiny bracts.
Each flower is bilaterally symmetrical; about ½-¾ inches wide; has 5 separate,
unequal, rounded petals; has 5 separate, pointed, light green sepals; has 5 distinct
stamens; and has 1 pistil. The lowest petal is broad, trough-shaped, and has a backward-
projecting nectar sac or spur located near its base. This lower petal acts as a landing
platform for pollinating insects. The lowest 3 petals have brown or dark purple lines or
veins to guide the Insects (Class Insecta) to the pollen and to the nectar. The 2 side
(lateral) petals are bearded. Its stamens are loosely united and are ringed around the
ovary. The lower 2 stamens are located within the petal spur. Its pistil has a thick head
and a club-shaped style that is bent at its base. Each pistil has a 1-celled ovary with
numerous ovules.
Bees (Superfamily Apoidea), Butterflies (Suborder Rhopalocera), and Moths
(Suborder Heterocera) are its main pollinators. Bumblebees (Genus Bombus) often chew
holes into the nectar sac to gain easy access to the nectar without pollinating the flower.
Located near or under the ground are the greenish cleistogamous (closed seeds)
flowers, which come later in the season. These flowers are often inconspicuous and never
open. Theses flowers self-fertilize and produce an abundance of seeds whose genes are
identical to the parent plant. These flowers assure that this species does not hybridize
with other similar species. This lack of diversity assures that the plant will only adapt to
specific microhabitats.
Flowering season is March to July. Some flowers may bloom in the fall. This is
because the photoperiod (daylength) in the fall is the same as in the spring.
Fruit: Its fruit is a 1/3-3/4 inch long, 3-celled, ovoid capsule or a pod, which may be
densely hairy. It turns brown when it matures. These fruits open elastically and
explosively to eject and scatter the seeds for several feet.
Seeds: The seeds are pale brown and glabrous. They have elaiosome appendages at their
base that allows Ants (Family Formicidae) to carry them to their nests. These edible
fleshy elaiosomes attract the Ants. The Ants eat the edible parts and discard the rest of
the seed with its hard coat. These discarded seeds germinate faster and produce healthier
plants than seeds that just fall to the ground.
Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura L.), Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis L.),
Eastern Bobwhite Quails (Colinus virginianus L.), Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo
L.), and Mice (Genus Mus) eat these seeds.
Rootsystem: Its rhizomes are stout, thick, woody, scaly, and brown. They can form large
colonies. Its roots are coarse and fibrous.
Habitat: Its habitats consist of dry or moist woods or open meadows. Richer soils often
produced more flowers. Therefore, Violets were good indicators of the quality of the soil.
Range: Its range consists of southeastern Canada and much of the eastern U.S., except
Newfoundland and Florida.
Uses of the Yellow Violet:
Some botanists claim that all Violet species have a certain degree of edibility. Other
botanists say Yellow Violets are cathartic and are inedible. Only the species with blue or
white flowers should be considered safe to consume.
Yellow Violets have some medicinal uses. A leaf poultice was used for treating
headaches. The leaf poultice is presently being studied as a possible treatment for skin
cancer. A root poultice was used for treating boils. The plant was also used as a poultice
for ulcers and bedsores. The roots were also used as heart medicine. An infusion was
used for treating dysentery, colds, coughs, blood disorders, and as a spring tonic. An
infusion nasal spray was used for catarrh. A decoction was used for treating indigestion,
sore throats, and as a wash for facial eruptions. The leaves and the rhizomes were also
used as an expectorant, and emetic, and a purgative. Syrup from the flowers was used for
treating coughs, bronchitis, consumption, and pertussis.
Cultural History of the Yellow Violet:
Almost all of our Violet species played a role in our cultural history. Some of these
roles go back to ancient Greece or to ancient Rome. Violets have been a symbol of
modesty and of simplicity.
19th Century American poet William Cullen Bryant wrote this poem about the Yellow
Violet.
The Yellow Violet
When beechen buds begin to swell
And when the blue-bird’s warble know,
The yellow violet’s modest bell
Peeps from the last year’s leaves below.
Ere russet fields their green resume,
Sweet flower, I love, in forest bare,
To meet thee, when thy faint perfume
Alone is in the virgin air.
Of all her train, the hands of Spring
First plant thee in the watery mould,
And I have seen thee blossoming
Beside the snow-bank’s edges cold.
Thy parent sun, who bade thee view
Pale skies, and chilling moisture sip,
Has bathed thee in his own bright hue,
And streaked with jet thy glowing lip.
Yet slight thy form, and low thy seat,
And earthward bent thy gentle eye,
Unapt the passing view to meet
When loftier flowers are flaunting nigh.
Oft, in the sunless April day,
They early smile has stayed my walk;
But midst the gorgeous blooms of May,
I passed thee on thy humble stalk.
So they, who climb to wealth, forget
The friends in darker fortunes tried.
I copied them-but I regret
That I should ape the ways of pride.
And when again the genial hour
Awakes the painted tribes of light,
I’ll not o’erlook the modest flower
That made the woods of April bright.
REFERENCES
NATIONAL WILDLIFE FEDERATION FIELD GUIDE TO WILDFLOWERS OF NORTH AMERICA
By David M. Brandenburg
FOREST PLANTS OF CENTRAL ONTARIO
By Brenda Chambers, Karen Legasy, and Cathy V. Bentley
WILDFLOWERS IN THE FIELD AND FOREST
By Steven Clemants and Carol Gracie
COMMON FLOWERING PLANTS OF THE NORTHEAST
By Donald D. Cox
MISSOURI WILDFLOWERS
By Edgar Denison
WILDFLOWERS OF ONTARIO
By Timothy Dickinson, Deborah Metzger, Jenny Bull, and Richard Dickinson
THE BOOK OF FOREST AND THICKET
By John Eastman and Amelia Hansen
SUBURBAN WILDFLOWERS
By Richard Headstrom
WILDFLOWERS OF OHIO
By Robert L. Henn
WILDFLOWERS AND FERNS OF INDIANA FORESTS
By Michael A. Homoya
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
By Don Kurz
NORTHWOODS WILDFLOWERS
By Doug Ladd
WILDFLOWER FOLKLORE
By Laura C. Martin
NATIVE AMERICAN MEDICINAL PLANTS
By Daniel E. Moerman
NEWCOMB’S WILDFLOWER GUIDE
By Lawrence Newcomb and Gordon Morrison
WILDFLOWERS
By Roger Tory Peterson and Margaret Mc Kenny
BORN IN THE SPRING
By June Carver Roberts
HEDGEMAIDS AND FAIRY CANDLES
By Jack Sanders
NATIONAL AUDUBON SOCIETY FIELD GUIDE TO WILDFLOWERS (EASTERN REGION)
By John W. Thieret, William A. Niering, and Nancy C. Olmstead
WILDFLOWERS OF NORTH AMERICA
By Frank D. Venning and Manabu C. Saito
LIFE AND LORE OF ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
By William E. Werner, Jr.
www.poetryfoundation.org/poem/243454