which violet?

[JennyS]

I've another plant I can't identify! Its a violet, very mucky blue-white colour, and the leaf is very long and narrow ....Can anyone id it for me, as I've not seen one looking like this before.



Help appreciated, thanks, Jenny

[aeshna5]

Looks like Pale Dog Violet, Viola lactea, which is usually found on heaths. What part of the country did you find it, as this species has a fairly local distribution?

[Adam Cheeseman]

Hi Jenny,

nearest I can get t it is either Pale Dog-violet Viola lactea or Heath Dog-violet Viola canina. I'd go with the former based on the colour.

Cheers,

Adam

[Paul mabbott]

We have a more definitely spotty violet in our garden, I'll see if I can find the label .... So this may be a non-native - where did you find this: in the wild or in a garden?

[Tiggrx]

I would agree Viola lactea (a species I have never seen - very jealous), though hybrids between this species and related species do occur and would be similar.

I suspect the spotty violet that Paul mentioned would be Viola soraria 'Freckles' a cultivar of the Sister Violet, a North American species. This has much more heart-shaped leaves than those in Jenny's picture.

[JennyS]

Thanks folks, I was wondering if it might be v.lactea, but wasn't quite happy with my own id. I spotted it near a field of Heath Spotted-orchids in West Cork, which is an area where it has been recorded.
I've come across quite a few very pale (presumably) heath violets in the last month but they have all had much wider leaves and top petals. Is there a reconised cross between the two, and do both parent species have to be present?

[Paul mabbott]

Originally Posted by Tiggrx

I suspect the spotty violet that Paul mentioned would be Viola soraria 'Freckles' a cultivar of the Sister Violet, a North American species. This has much more heart-shaped leaves than those in Jenny's picture.

Quite right! Wish I had a memory ....

[AlanS]

As Tiggrx has mentioned, hybrids are not unusual amongst the Violets.

From experience (albeit rather limited) of populations in the New Forest, I feel fairly sure that this indeed a hybrid, between V. lactea and V. canina (so brownie points to Adam for mentioning both). It can be more common than pure V. lactea where the parents meet.

Alan

[JennyS]

Hi AlanS What are the pointers to this one possibly being a hybrid?