Viola species - Violets and Pansies
This genus is divided into violets and pansies. The main difference is small leaf-like structures called stipules, that are found at the base of the leaves where they emerge from the stems. In violets the stipules are toothed, in pansies they have lobes and are much more leaf-like, indeed in the field stipules and leaves can easily be confused in pansies, see the annotated photograph.
In both violets and especially pansies, colour is not reliable for identification. White violets and yellow, white or purple pansies are common..
There are three species of pansy in Lanarkshire and the habitat is useful in distinguishing them see the notes on the pictures.
Viola arvensis - Field Pansy
Viola lutea - Mountain Pansy
Viola tricolor - Wild Pansy
There are two common species on violet in Lanarkshire, one in dry ground and the other in wet ground.
Viola palustris - Marsh Violet
Viola riviniana - Common Dog-violet
Viola canina Dog Violet is uncommon. It has leafy stems and no basal rosette. Leaves are ovate to narrowly ovate (> 1.4 as long as wide). Flower blue with a whitish-yellow spur.
Viola odorata Sweet Violet is also uncommon. Perennial with leaves and flowers from a central tuft with creeping, stolons. Leaves and petioles hairy, ovate to ovate-orbicular, deeply cordate. Sepals obtuse to rounded. Sweet smelling flowers violet or white with violet or purple spur.