The American Violet Society
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Web Based Simplified Dichotomous Key To The Viola of Pennsylvania
CLICK ON THE IMAGE THAT MOST CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE PLANT YOU WISH TO IDENTIFY
Synopsis: The Violet is Stemmed and Has A Yellow Center or Flower.
There are  7 Possible Solutions.
Comparison 3.  A1-B2-E
 

     Most members of the Violet family, spread by either surface stolons (Above Ground Horizontal Stems) or rhizomes (Underground Horizontal Stems).  A few do not have these, but rather have a slender vertical tap root, often with fine branching roots branching from it.  Those with tap roots are considered "Violas" or "Field Pansies"  They are still members of the violet family, but have a different common name.
 
     Does the plant have a slender taproot, or a thick horizontal rhizome (underground stem) > 3 mm thick?
 
(E1), Slender Taproot
(Field-Pansy / Viola)  		(E2), Rhizome > 3 mm thick
(Violet) 
  
 Or you can bypass the key and go directly to any of the species below
 
(3 Possibilities)  (4 Possibilities)
Click Here If The Flower Is Blue or Pale PurpleClick Here If The Flower Is Blue or Pale Purple Click Here If The Flower Is Blue or Pale PurpleClick Here If The Flower Is Blue or Pale Purple
By Gary W. Sherwin
Compiled From A Key By Harvey Ballard
Originally Published In Plants of Pennsylvania
© 2001 The American Violet Society All Rights Reserved
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