field pansy

Family

Violaceae

Scientific Name

Viola bicolor

Other Common Names:

johnny-jump-up

wild pansy

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Viola rafinesquei

Viola kitaibeliana

Habit

Erect winter annual that is less than 6 inches tall.

Leaves

Alternate, up to 1 inch long and 0.5 inch wide, linear or oblanceloate with either smooth or sparsely toothed margins.

Identifying Characteristics

Young plants form a basal rossette

Flower Seed Head

Single flowers on stalks that are often white to blue in color with purple or yellow centers.

Seed Fruit

Capsules less than 0.25 inch in diameter and green.

Where Found

Open fields, roadsides, lawns

Growth Habit

upright and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

Varies:

pencil,

dime,

nickle

Dominant Flower Color

Varies:

white,

yellow,

blue,

purple

Flower Symmetry

bilateral symmetry

Leaf Hairs

no hairs

Leaf Shape

Varies:

round,

lance,

oval

Leaf Arrangement

alternate

Leaf Margin

Varies:

entire,

serrated

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

Varies:

shorter than leaf,

longer than leaf

Stem Hairs

no hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

Varies:

fibrous,

taproot

Life Cycle

summer annual

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb