Violet (Family Violaceae)

Violaceae is a family of flowering plants consisting of about 800

species in 21 genera. It takes its name from Genus Viola, the

violets and pansies. Older classifications such as the Cronquist sys-

tem placed Violaceae in an order named after it, the Violales. How-

ever, newer classifications such as that of the Angiosperm Phylogeny

Group locate it in the Malpighiales. Though the best-known genus,

Viola, is herbaceous, most species are shrubs or small trees.

Family Violaceae is worldwide, but members are particularly abun-

dant in tropical regions.

Highly valued for their beauty, over 120 species of Viola are grown

as ornamentals (with some escaping and becoming naturalized).

Twelve species of the Viola genus have been identified as occur-

ring in Facquier County; of these twelve species, six distinct species

occur in Sky Meadows State Park.

Back to Inventory of Forb/Herb Families and Species