Violas in Edinburgh / Lothians ● In our region there are three common (Common Dog, Sweet, Marsh) and three uncommon (Early, Heath, Hairy) Violets. ● Recommended reading is the BSBI Handbook on Violets and Pansies.
Common Dog Violet - Ubiquitous - Viola riviniana ● Usually a shade of purple but can be rosy (var rosea) or white (f. luxurians). ● The white form has a greenish spur, and when in the vicinity of a purple form a range of intermediate colours will be seen. It can, amongst places, be seen widely in the woods at the entrance to Gogarburn Golf Club and also on the canal banks just past the steps up to the Climbing Centre, Ratho. Pointed sepals
Veins Top petals prominent Spur paler overlappy & branched than petals
Flattish leaf tips (obtuse) Approx hairless White form
Heart-based (‘cordate’)
Notch often substantial
Early/Wood Dog Violet - Very Rare, old records only (UK distribution: South to Dumfries and Argyll & Bute) - Viola reichenbachiana Gappy top petals Pointed sepals
Pointier tips (acute)
Veins little/less branched
Spur darker than petals Heath Dog Violet - Very Rare (photo’d at Harlaw Reservoir) - Viola canina
Yellowish spur
Lightish clear blue
Sweet Violet - Hairs may be absent; has various colour forms (White or Violet, sometimes Pink or Yellow) - Commonish (particularly as garden escape) - Viola odorata Patch-forming Roundish leaves White form
Blunt sepals
Leaf-stem hairs point Runners down/pressed (stolons) (<0.3mm) Rosy form
Hairy leaf
Hairy Violet - similar to odorata above, but without runners, and the leaf-stem hairs are longer (0.3-1mm) and out-pointing as shown here - Very occasional - Viola hirta
Photo from naturespot.org.uk. Marsh Violet - Common outside city - Viola palustris ● The leaves emerge from runners under the ground. Flower often Pale
Prominent Veins Blunt sepals
Leaf emerges directly from ground Hairless
Wide, roundish leaf
Info Updated : 2019-03-27 – please check you have the latest version! Contact : David Merrick – facebook.com/meteorquake Facebook Botany Group for Lothians : facebook.com/groups/lothiansbotany All items in this Series : paintdrawer.co.uk/nature/edinburgh/downloads.htm