*Viola arvensis Murray. Section: Melanium. Subsection: Bracteolatae. Common name: European Field Pansy. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Mar–Jul (-Aug); cleistogamous fruit May-Jun (-Aug). Habitat: Roadsides, fields, other disturbed habitats. Distribution: Native of Europe, widely introduced.
ID notes: This species is easily distinguished from V. rafinesquei by the petals nearly or fully surpassed by the sepals (the latter often largely concealing the mature capsule), the cream-white corolla (which is rare in the latter), and pinnatifid stipules with the terminal leaf-like lobe much larger and broader than the lateral lobes and having 4 or more crenations per side. It differs from V. tricolor by the pinnately divided stipules, sepals nearly equaling to fully surpassing the petals, and the cream-colored petals.
Origin/Endemic status: Europe
Taxonomy Comments: Apparently does hybridize rarely with V. tricolor (Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino 2023).
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA6, G, GrPl, Il, K1, K3, K4, Mi, NE, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Ballard () (in prep), Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023), McKinney & Russell (2002)
Links to other floras: = Viola arvensis - FNA6
Heliophily ⓘ: 8
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect to leaning annual of roadsides, fields and other disturbed habitats. Native of Europe.
Stems: Stems 1-several from crown, ridged, hairy throughout.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; on petioles with large, leaf-like, lobed stipules at the petiole base; lower leaves round to oval and upper ones oblong to elliptic; 1/2-2 in. long; with rounded, coarse teeth and hairs on the margins as well as hairy on veins beneath.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary on long stalks from upper leaf axils, creamy white to yellowish-white with a darker yellow patch (sometimes light purple), 1/3-3/4 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one largest and extending behind the flower in a spur.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-celled capsule.
Comments: Roots give off wintergreen odor when crushed. There are no closed, self-pollinating flowers in this Viola species.
Height: 4-12 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect to leaning annual of roadsides, fields and other disturbed habitats. Native of Europe.
stems: Stems 1-several from crown, ridged, hairy throughout.
leaves: Leaves alternate; on petioles with large, leaf-like, lobed stipules at the petiole base; lower leaves round to oval and upper ones oblong to elliptic; 1/2-2 in. long; with rounded, coarse teeth and hairs on the margins as well as hairy on veins beneath.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary on long stalks from upper leaf axils, creamy white to yellowish-white with a darker yellow patch (sometimes light purple), 1/3-3/4 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one largest and extending behind the flower in a spur.
fruits: Fruit a 3-celled capsule.
comments: Roots give off wintergreen odor when crushed. There are no closed, self-pollinating flowers in this Viola species.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: