Viola bicolor
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Photo courtesy Renee Brecht |
Britton & Brown |
| Botanical name: | Viola bicolor |
| Common name: | field pansy |
| Group: | dicot |
| Family: | Violaceae |
| Growth type: | forb/herb |
| Duration: | perennial |
| Origin: | native |
| Plant height: | 2 - 12" |
| Foliage: | alternate; leaf blade tapers toward the stalk. Stipules divided into narrow lobes. |
| Flower: | irregular flower, white or blue, sometimes with a yellow marking |
| Flowering time: | bloom April into late spring |
| Habitat: | disturbed habitats, as well as fields, & open woods on substrates ranging from sandy soil to clay to limestone |
| Range in New Jersey: | statewide |
| Heritage ranking, if any: | n/a |
| Distribution: |  |
| Misc. | The nectar and pollen of the flowers attract
bees, and occasionally small butterflies and skippers. The
caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies (Boloria spp., Speyeria spp., etc.) and moths feed on the foliage of Viola. The seeds are eaten in limited amounts by the Ruffed Grouse, Bobwhite, Wild Turkey, Mourning Dove, and some songbirds. |