Scottish Rock Garden Club Forum

Seedy Subjects! => Grow From Seed => Topic started by: maggiepie on May 11, 2010, 03:43:36 PM

Title: Violet ID wanted
Post by: maggiepie on May 11, 2010, 03:43:36 PM

A friend who lives in Japan sent me a few violet seeds several years ago.
The seeds germinated readily but did not produce flowers, only seed pods.
Imagine my surprise a few days ago when I found this.
Am hoping someone might be able to identify it for me. :)

Title: Re: Violet ID wanted
Post by: WimB on May 11, 2010, 04:38:57 PM

Helen, it looks like Viola chaerophylloides. Normally white, but there are pink cultivars

Title: Re: Violet ID wanted
Post by: maggiepie on May 11, 2010, 09:34:30 PM

Thanks, Wim.
I think you're right after doing some googling of pics.
Would love to get a white one. So far both seedlings that have flowered have been the same colour.

Title: Re: Violet ID wanted
Post by: fleurbleue on May 11, 2010, 10:36:11 PM

Hi Helen, it could be Viola eizanensis

Title: Re: Violet ID wanted
Post by: Lesley Cox on May 12, 2010, 05:46:22 AM

Those two species are quite close are they not?

Title: Re: Violet ID wanted
Post by: WimB on May 12, 2010, 06:24:34 AM

Quote from: Lesley Cox on May 12, 2010, 05:46:22 AM

Those two species are quite close are they not?

Yes, they are. The biggest difference is that in habitat. V. eizanensis grows in shadier and moistier places than V. chaerophylloides and V. eizanensis is more common in Japan.
Since they are very close they cross easily and even their crosses are fertile most of the time. So it could be a cross too.

Title: Re: Violet ID wanted
Post by: fleurbleue on May 12, 2010, 12:42:19 PM

Thanks Wim for these infos about Viola :D