FAMILIES OF PLANTS 
87 
VIOLET FAMILY (VIOLACEAE) 
This family is important only because of its beautiful flowers, 
principally the various kinds of cultivated pansies and wild violets. 
Nearly everyone recognizes a violet when he sees it. The various 
Figube 65.—Globemallow. Pale purple. Photograph by Dr. Frank R. Oastler. 
species that are found in the park may be distinguished by means 
of the following key: 
1. Flowers white. Sweet white violet________ (Viola bland a). 
1. Flowers yellow. 2. 
1. Flowers blue, violet or lilac. 5. 
2. Leaves coarsely toothed or lobed__,_____ Viola atriplicifolia. 
2. Leaves entire or nearly so. 3. 
3. Plants small and prostrate_.____ Viola nuttalliL 
3. Plants larger and more or less erect. 4. 
4. Leaves somewhat white~hairy___„__ Viola linguaefolia. 
4. Leaves smooth or nearly so_._ Viola erectifolia. 
5. Leaves all basal. Flowers on leafless stems. 6. 
5. Leaves not all basal. Flowers in the axils of stem 
leaves. 7. 
6. Plants with stolons___ Viola palustris. 
6. Plants without stolons___ Viola nephrophylla. 
