violets

genus Viola

Member of violet family (family Violaceae)
dicots (class Magnoliopsida)
flowering plants (subphylum Angiospermae)

Except for old historical records and extremely rare examples that I don't expect to encounter, there are no other wild species of this genus in the bay area.

Key features:

corolla color
leaves simple or compound
basal leaves or not; cauline leaves or not
stem ± erect, stolon-like [prostrate, root-forming], or not present
cleistogamous flower present or not

white violets

western heart’s ease
Viola ocellata

common in Santa Cruz range

yellow violets

california golden violet
Viola pedunculata

leaves simple, cauline only
stems decumbent to erect, branched, with leaves, peduncles
no cleistogamous flower present
common

goosefoot violet
Viola purpurea

leaves simple, basal and cauline
1–6 basal leaves per caudex [subterranean woody base], petioles winged
stems prostrate to erect, with leaves, peduncles
cleistogamous flower present
scattered

redwood violet
Viola sempervirens

leaves simple, smaller, duller, and lower to the ground than stream violet (Viola glabella); tip is usually rounded, not pointed
lower stem stolon-like [prostrate, root-forming], with evergreen leaves, peduncles
common in the Santa Cruz range and Oakland

stream violet
Viola glabella

leaves simple, tip may be slightly pointed
lower stem erect, without leaves, peduncles
Santa Cruz range and Oakland

douglas’ violet
Viola douglasii

leaves 2-pinnate-compound
leaf blades longer than wide; leaf segments 3–5, 1–2.5(5) mm wide
lateral 2 petals bearded with cylindric hairs [near the throat]
Coe, Ohlone

shelton’s violet
Viola sheltonii

leaves ternate-compound
leaf blades wider than long; leaf segments 3, 2–10 mm wide
lateral 2 petals ± bearded or not with club-shaped hairs
Mt. Diablo, Ohlone

violet violets

western dog violet
Viola adunca var. adunca

stems prostrate to erect, with leaves, peduncles
scattered near pacific coast and Oakland

eurasian sweet violet
Viola odorata

no stem [just a peduncle]
Bonny Doon, possibly Long Ridge

Toxicity:
except for seeds of violas (Viola spp.):

0 – Non-toxic.

At least one lower-level taxon has differing toxicity.

7 observed taxons / 3 unobserved taxons / 2 keys

Chris’s observations: 82 (all are research grade)

Locations:

Henry Coe SP: 13
Calero CP: 5
Joseph D. Grant CP: 5
Nisene Marks SP: 5
Monte Bello OSP: 4
Purisima Creek Redwoods OSP: 4
Wilder Ranch SP: 4
El Corte de Madera OSP: 3
Mt. Madonna SP: 3
Russian Ridge OSP: 3
Almaden Quicksilver CP: 2
Big Basin SP: 2
Castle Rock SP: 2
Coyote Lake / Harvey Bear Ranch CP: 2
Coyote Valley OSP: 2
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP: 2
Pleasanton Ridge RP: 2
Portola Redwoods SP: 2
Santa Teresa CP: 2
Saratoga Gap OSP: 2
Sierra Azul OSP: 2
Fort Ord NM
Henry Cowell Redwoods SP - Fall Creek Unit
Long Ridge OSP
Pacheco SP
Pescadero Creek CP
Phleger Estate
Sanborn CP
Stevens Creek CP
Sunol Wilderness RP
Sweeney Ridge National Recreation Area
Wunderlich CP

Months:

Feb.: 4
Mar.: 17
Apr.: 24
May: 24
Jun.: 6
Jul.: 3
Aug.: 1
Sep.: 2
Oct.: 1

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Taxon info: iNaturalist – Calflora – Jepson eFlora – FNA

Bay Area species: iNaturalist – Calflora