Violaceae
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Violaceae is a
family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
of
flowering plant Flowering plants are plants that bear flowers and fruits, and form the clade Angiospermae (), commonly called angiosperms. The term "angiosperm" is derived from the Greek words ('container, vessel') and ('seed'), and refers to those plants th ...
s established in 1802, consisting of about 1000 species in about 25 genera. It takes its name from the
genus Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of extant taxon, living and fossil organisms as well as Virus classification#ICTV classification, viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus com ...
''
Viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...
'', the violets and
pansies The garden pansy (''Viola'' × ''wittrockiana'') is a type of large-flowered hybrid plant cultivated as a garden flower. It is derived by hybridization from several species in the section ''Melanium'' ("the pansies") of the genus ''Viola'', p ...
. Older classifications such as the Cronquist system placed the Violaceae in an
order Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
named after it, the Violales or the
Parietales ''Parietales'' is an order of flowering plants. It is a descriptive botanical name for ''placentae parietales'' (parietal placentation) that characterised those plants. Thus it could be used even today (for a taxon above the rank of family). The t ...
. However, molecular phylogeny studies place the family in the Malpighiales as reflected in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) classification, with 41 other families, where it is situated in the parietal
clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...
of 11 families. Most of the species are found in three large genera, ''
Viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...
'', ''
Rinorea ''Rinorea'' is a genus of plant in family Violaceae. Species include: * '' Rinorea abbreviata'' G. Achoundong & J.J. Bos * '' Rinorea acommanthera'' Gagnep. * '' Rinorea antioquiensis'' Smith & Fernández * '' Rinorea bicornuta'' Hekking * '' R ...
'' and ''
Hybanthus ''Hybanthus'' (green-violet) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. This genus name is Greek for "humpback flower", referring to the drooping pedicels of plants that are part of this genus. The genus is grossly polyphyletic and m ...
''. The other genera are largely
monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
or oligotypic. The genera are grouped into four clades within the family. The species are largely tropical or subtropical but ''Viola'' has a number of species in
temperate In geography, the temperate climates of Earth occur in the middle latitudes (23.5° to 66.5° N/S of Equator), which span between the tropics and the polar regions of Earth. These zones generally have wider temperature ranges throughout t ...
regions. Many genera have a very restricted distribution.


Description

Though the best-known genus, ''Viola'', is
herbaceous Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennials, and nearly all annuals and biennials. Definitions of "herb" and "herbaceous" The fourth edition of t ...
, most species are shrubs, lianas or small trees. The simple
leaves A leaf (plural, : leaves) is any of the principal appendages of a vascular plant plant stem, stem, usually borne laterally aboveground and specialized for photosynthesis. Leaves are collectively called foliage, as in "autumn foliage", wh ...
are alternate or opposite, often with leafy stipules or the stipules are reduced in size. Some species have palmate or deeply dissected leaves. Many species are acaulescent. The flower are solitary in
panicles A panicle is a much-branched inflorescence. (softcover ). Some authors distinguish it from a compound spike inflorescence, by requiring that the flowers (and fruit) be pedicellate (having a single stem per flower). The branches of a panicle are o ...
. Some species have
cleistogamous Cleistogamy is a type of automatic self-pollination of certain plants that can propagate by using non-opening, self-pollinating flowers. Especially well known in peanuts, peas, and pansies, this behavior is most widespread in the grass family. How ...
flowers produced after or before the production of typical flowers with petals. Flowers are bisexual or unisexual (e.g. ''Melicytus''), actinomorphic but typically zygomorphic with a calyx of five sepals that are persistent after flowering. Corollae have five mostly unequal petals, and the anterior petal is larger and often spurred. Plants have five stamens with the abaxial stamen often spurred at the base. The gynoecium is a compound pistil of three united carpels with one
locule A locule (plural locules) or loculus (plural loculi) (meaning "little place" in Latin) is a small cavity or compartment within an organ or part of an organism (animal, plant, or fungus). In angiosperms (flowering plants), the term ''locule'' usu ...
. Styles are simple, with the ovary superior and containing many ovules. The fruits are capsules split by way of three seams. Seeds have
endosperm The endosperm is a tissue produced inside the seeds of most of the flowering plants following double fertilization. It is triploid (meaning three chromosome sets per nucleus) in most species, which may be auxin-driven. It surrounds the embryo and ...
.


Taxonomy

That ''Viola'', previously included by Jussieu (1789) under Cisti, should have its own family was first proposed by Ventenat in 1799, and in 1803 placed the ''Viola'' species in a new genus, ''
Ionidium ''Hybanthus'' (green-violet) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. This genus name is Greek for "humpback flower", referring to the drooping pedicels of plants that are part of this genus. The genus is grossly polyphyletic and m ...
'' which he described as "Famille des violettes." However, in the meantime
Batsch August Johann Georg Karl Batsch (28 October 1761 – 29 September 1802) was a German naturalist. He was a recognised authority on mushrooms, and also described new species of ferns, bryophytes, and seed plants. Life and career Batsch was born ...
established the Violaceae, as a suprageneric rank under the name of Violariae (1802), and as the first formal description, bears his name as the botanical authority. Batsch included eight
genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
in this
family Family (from la, familia) is a Social group, group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or Affinity (law), affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its ...
. Although Violariae continued to be used by some authors, such as
Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name *Don, Benin, a town in Benin *Don, Dang, a vill ...
(1831) and Bentham and Hooker (1862) (as Violarieae), most authors, such as Engler (1895), adopted the alternative name Violaceae, proposed by
de Lamarck Jean-Baptiste Pierre Antoine de Monet, chevalier de Lamarck (1 August 1744 – 18 December 1829), often known simply as Lamarck (; ), was a French naturalist, biologist, academic, and soldier. He was an early proponent of the idea that biolog ...
and de Candolle in 1805, and later by
Gingins Gingins is a municipality in the district of Nyon in the canton of Vaud in Switzerland. History Gingins is first mentioned around 1144-59 as ''Gingins''. In October 1535, a major battle was fought in that locality between the forces of the republ ...
(1823) and Saint-Hilaire (1824). With the establishment of higher suprafamiliar orders, which he called "Alliances", Lindley (1853) placed his Violaceae within the Violales.


Phylogeny

Historically, Violaceae has been placed within a number of
orders Order, ORDER or Orders may refer to: * Categorization, the process in which ideas and objects are recognized, differentiated, and understood * Heterarchy, a system of organization wherein the elements have the potential to be ranked a number of d ...
since Lindley's treatment, principally Violales ( Hutchinson,
Takhtajan Armen Leonovich Takhtajan or Takhtajian ( hy, Արմեն Լևոնի Թախտաջյան; russian: Армен Леонович Тахтаджян; surname also transliterated Takhtadjan, Takhtadzhi︠a︡n or Takhtadzhian, pronounced takh-tuh-JA ...
, Cronquist, Thorne) and the equivalent
Parietales ''Parietales'' is an order of flowering plants. It is a descriptive botanical name for ''placentae parietales'' (parietal placentation) that characterised those plants. Thus it could be used even today (for a taxon above the rank of family). The t ...
( Bentham and Hooker,
Engler and Prantl One of the prime systems of plant taxonomy, the Engler system was devised by Adolf Engler (1844–1930), and is featured in two major taxonomic texts he authored or co-authored. His influence is reflected in the use of the terms "Engler School" and ...
, Melchior), although such placement was considered unsatisfactory, but also Polygalinae ( Hallier) and Guttiferales (
Bessey Bessey () is a commune in the Loire department in central France. Population See also *Communes of the Loire department The following is a list of the 323 communes of the Loire department of France. The communes cooperate in the following ...
). Of these, that of Melchior (1925), within the Engler and Prantl system, has been considered one of the most influential.
Molecular phylogenetics Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
resulted in the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (APG) places it as one of a large number of
families Family (from la, familia) is a group of people related either by consanguinity (by recognized birth) or affinity (by marriage or other relationship). The purpose of the family is to maintain the well-being of its members and of society. Ideall ...
within the
eudicot The eudicots, Eudicotidae, or eudicotyledons are a clade of flowering plants mainly characterized by having two seed leaves upon germination. The term derives from Dicotyledons. Traditionally they were called tricolpates or non-magnoliid dicot ...
order Malpighiales. Violaceae, as one of 42 families, is placed in a
clade A clade (), also known as a monophyletic group or natural group, is a group of organisms that are monophyletic – that is, composed of a common ancestor and all its lineal descendants – on a phylogenetic tree. Rather than the English term, ...
of 10 families within the order. Its place within the parietal clade reflects its earlier position in Parietales, those families with parietal placentation. There it forms a
sister group In phylogenetics, a sister group or sister taxon, also called an adelphotaxon, comprises the closest relative(s) of another given unit in an evolutionary tree. Definition The expression is most easily illustrated by a cladogram: Taxon A and t ...
to
Goupiaceae ''Goupia'' is a neotropical genus of flowering plants and the sole genus included in the family Goupiaceae. There are three species, all found in tropical northern South America.Lacostea, J. F., & Alexandre, D. Y. (1991). Le goupi (Goupia glabra ...
.


Subdivision


History

The Violaceae are a medium sized family with about 22–28
genera Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial nomenclat ...
, and about 1,000–1,100
species In biology, a species is the basic unit of classification and a taxonomic rank of an organism, as well as a unit of biodiversity. A species is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate s ...
. Most of the genera are
monotypic In biology, a monotypic taxon is a taxonomic group (taxon) that contains only one immediately subordinate taxon. A monotypic species is one that does not include subspecies or smaller, infraspecific taxa. In the case of genera, the term "unispec ...
or oligotypic, but the three genera ''
Viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...
'' (about 600 species), ''
Rinorea ''Rinorea'' is a genus of plant in family Violaceae. Species include: * '' Rinorea abbreviata'' G. Achoundong & J.J. Bos * '' Rinorea acommanthera'' Gagnep. * '' Rinorea antioquiensis'' Smith & Fernández * '' Rinorea bicornuta'' Hekking * '' R ...
'' (about 250 species), and ''
Hybanthus ''Hybanthus'' (green-violet) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. This genus name is Greek for "humpback flower", referring to the drooping pedicels of plants that are part of this genus. The genus is grossly polyphyletic and m ...
'' include 98% of the species with about half the species in ''Viola'', and more than three-quarters of the remainder in the other two genera. Many attempts have been made at an intrafamilial classification, but these have largely been artificial, based on floral characteristics. Subdivisions were recognized almost immediately. Early classifications identified two major divisions, that were followed by most taxonomists; * Alsodeieae. (Alsodineae, Rinoreeae). Radially symmetrical flowers ( actinomorphic) * Violeae. Bilaterally symmetrical flowers ( zygomorphic) These also had
biogeographical Biogeography is the study of the distribution of species and ecosystems in geographic space and through geological time. Organisms and biological communities often vary in a regular fashion along geographic gradients of latitude, elevation, i ...
correlation, with the latter being almost exclusively South American and African, and the former being distributed in Europe in addition to the Americas. In contrast, Bentham and Hooker (and some others) divided Alsodeieae, giving three tribes; * Violeae. Strictly zygomorphic * Paypayroleae. Actinomorphic wth some zygomorphic features * Alsodeieae. Strictly actinomorphic Melchior utilized a more complex classification with two subfamilies, tribes and subtribes to recognize the place of '' Leonia'' within the Violaceae;. * Subfamily Violoideae ** Tribe Rinoreeae *** Subtribe Rinoreinae (''
Rinorea ''Rinorea'' is a genus of plant in family Violaceae. Species include: * '' Rinorea abbreviata'' G. Achoundong & J.J. Bos * '' Rinorea acommanthera'' Gagnep. * '' Rinorea antioquiensis'' Smith & Fernández * '' Rinorea bicornuta'' Hekking * '' R ...
'', '' Allexis'', '' Gloeospermum'') *** Subtribe Hymenantherina (''
Melicytus ''Melicytus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. ''Hymenanthera'' is a synonym. Species * ''Melicytus alpinus'' – porcupine shrub (New Zealand) *''Melicytus angustifolius'' (New Zealand) Melicytus_dentatus.html" ;"title=" ...
'', '' Hymenanthera'') *** Subtribe Isodendriinae ('' Isodendrion'') *** Subtribe Paypayrolinae ('' Amphirrhox'', '' Paypayrola'') ** Tribe Violeae *** Subtribe Hybanthinae (''
Hybanthus ''Hybanthus'' (green-violet) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. This genus name is Greek for "humpback flower", referring to the drooping pedicels of plants that are part of this genus. The genus is grossly polyphyletic and m ...
'', ''
Agatea ''Agatea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with seven accepted species, found in New Guinea and New Caledonia. Description Lianas or reclining shrubs with lanceolate to ovate leaves. The flowers are in terminal ...
'') *** Subtribe Violinae (''
Anchietea ''Anchietea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with six accepted species, found in tropical South America. Description Lianas or reclining shrubs with oblong-lanceolate to ovate leaves. The flowers, which may be ...
'', '' Corynostylis'', ''
Schweiggeria ''Schweiggeria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with one or two species, found in eastern Brazil. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally sy ...
'', ''
Noisettia ''Noisettia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with a single known species. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), in axillar ...
'', ''Viola'') * Subfamily Leonioideae (''Leonia'') The historical subdivisions shown here are those of the system of Hekking (1988), based largely on floral symmetry, petal aestivation and petal morphology. In this system, most genera occur in the Rinoreae and Violeae tribes. Three
subfamilies In biological classification, a subfamily (Latin: ', plural ') is an auxiliary (intermediate) taxonomic rank, next below family but more inclusive than genus. Standard nomenclature rules end subfamily botanical names with "-oideae", and zoologi ...
have been recognized: the Violoideae, Leonioideae, and Fusispermoideae.


= Subfamily Fusispermoideae

= *'' Fusispermum'' Cuatrec.


= Subfamily Leonioideae

= *'' Leonia''
Ruiz The Spanish surname Ruiz originates from the Germanic personal name " Hrodric" which is composed of the elements "Hrōd", meaning "renown", and "rīc", meaning "power(ful)", thus "famous ruler". Ruiz is a patronymic from the personal name Ruy, a sh ...
& Pav.


= Subfamily Violoideae

=


Tribe Rinoreeae


Subtribe Hymenantherinae

*'' Hymenanthera'' R.Br. *''
Melicytus ''Melicytus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. ''Hymenanthera'' is a synonym. Species * ''Melicytus alpinus'' – porcupine shrub (New Zealand) *''Melicytus angustifolius'' (New Zealand) Melicytus_dentatus.html" ;"title=" ...
''
J.R.Forst. Johann Reinhold Forster (22 October 1729 – 9 December 1798) was a German Reformed (Calvinist) pastor and naturalist of partially Scottish descent who made contributions to the early ornithology of Europe and North America. He is best known ...
&
G.Forst. Johann George Adam Forster, also known as Georg Forster (, 27 November 1754 – 10 January 1794), was a German naturalist, ethnologist, travel writer, journalist and revolutionary. At an early age, he accompanied his father, Johann Reinhold F ...


Subtribe Isodendriinae

*'' Isodendrion''
A.Gray Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His '' Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually exc ...


Subtribe Paypayrolinae

*'' Amphirrhox''
Spreng. Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel (3 August 1766 – 15 March 1833) was a German botanist and physician who published an influential multivolume history of medicine, ''Versuch einer pragmatischen Geschichte der Arzneikunde'' (1792–99 in four vo ...
*'' Paypayrola'' Aubl. (including ''Hekkingia'' J. K. Munzinger & H.E.Ballard)


Subtribe Rinoreinae

*'' Allexis''
Pierre Pierre is a masculine given name. It is a French form of the name Peter. Pierre originally meant "rock" or "stone" in French (derived from the Greek word πέτρος (''petros'') meaning "stone, rock", via Latin "petra"). It is a translation ...
*'' Decorsella'' A.Chev. (including ''Gymnorinorea'' Keay) *'' Gloeospermum'' Triana & Planch. *''
Rinorea ''Rinorea'' is a genus of plant in family Violaceae. Species include: * '' Rinorea abbreviata'' G. Achoundong & J.J. Bos * '' Rinorea acommanthera'' Gagnep. * '' Rinorea antioquiensis'' Smith & Fernández * '' Rinorea bicornuta'' Hekking * '' R ...
'' Aubl. (including ''Alsodeia'' Thouars, ''Phyllanoa'' Croizat, ''Scyphellandra'' Thwaites) *'' Rinoreocarpus'' Ducke


Tribe Violeae

About 600 species, in the following genera, but mainly in ''
Viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...
'' and ''
Hybanthus ''Hybanthus'' (green-violet) is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. This genus name is Greek for "humpback flower", referring to the drooping pedicels of plants that are part of this genus. The genus is grossly polyphyletic and m ...
'' and including all four of the lianescent genera in the family (''
Agatea ''Agatea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with seven accepted species, found in New Guinea and New Caledonia. Description Lianas or reclining shrubs with lanceolate to ovate leaves. The flowers are in terminal ...
'', ''
Anchietea ''Anchietea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with six accepted species, found in tropical South America. Description Lianas or reclining shrubs with oblong-lanceolate to ovate leaves. The flowers, which may be ...
'', '' Calyptrion'' and '' Hybanthopsis''; * ''Anchietea''
A.St.-Hil. Augustin François César Prouvençal de Saint-Hilaire (4 October 17793 September 1853) was French botany, botanist and traveller who was born and died in Orléans, France. A keen observer, he is credited with important discoveries in botany, nota ...
* '' Corynostylis''
Mart. Carl Friedrich Philipp (Karl Friedrich Philipp) von Martius (17 April 1794 – 13 December 1868) was a German botanist and explorer. Life Martius was born at Erlangen, the son of Prof Ernst Wilhelm Martius, court apothecary. He graduated PhD f ...
(including ''Agatea''
A.Gray Asa Gray (November 18, 1810 – January 30, 1888) is considered the most important American botanist of the 19th century. His '' Darwiniana'' was considered an important explanation of how religion and science were not necessarily mutually exc ...
and ''Agation'' Brongn. and a synonym of ''Calyptrion'') * ''Hybanthopsis'' Paula-Souza * ''Hybanthus''
Jacq. Nikolaus Joseph Freiherr von Jacquin (16 February 172726 October 1817) was a scientist who studied medicine, chemistry and botany. Biography Born in Leiden in the Netherlands, he studied medicine at Leiden University, then moved first to Par ...
(included ''Acentra''
Phil. Rodolfo Amando (or Rudolph Amandus) Philippi (14 September 1808 – 23 July 1904) was a German–Chilean paleontologist and zoologist. Philippi contributed primarily to malacology and paleontology. His grandson, Rodulfo Amando Philippi Bañados ( ...
, ''Clelandia'' J.M.Black, ''Cubelium'' Raf. ex Britton & A.Br., ''Ionidium'' Vent., ''Pigea''
DC. Augustin Pyramus (or Pyrame) de Candolle (, , ; 4 February 17789 September 1841) was a Swiss botanist. René Louiche Desfontaines launched de Candolle's botanical career by recommending him at a herbarium. Within a couple of years de Candolle ...
) * '' Mayanaea'' Lundell * ''
Noisettia ''Noisettia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with a single known species. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), in axillar ...
'' Kunth * '' Orthion''
Standl. Paul Carpenter Standley (March 21, 1884 – June 2, 1963) was an American botanist known for his work on neotropical plants. __TOC__ Standley was born on March 21, 1884 in Avalon, Missouri. He attended Drury College in Springfield, Missouri an ...
& Steyerm.
* '' Pombalia'' Vand. * ''
Schweiggeria ''Schweiggeria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with one or two species, found in eastern Brazil. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally sy ...
''
Spreng. Kurt Polycarp Joachim Sprengel (3 August 1766 – 15 March 1833) was a German botanist and physician who published an influential multivolume history of medicine, ''Versuch einer pragmatischen Geschichte der Arzneikunde'' (1792–99 in four vo ...
* ''Viola'' L. (including ''Erpetion'' Sweet, ''Mnemion''
Spach Spach is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: * Édouard Spach (1801–1879), French botanist * Stephen Spach Stephen Joseph Spach (born July 18, 1982) is a former American football tight end who played in the National Football Le ...
)


Molecular systems

Molecular phylogenetic Molecular phylogenetics () is the branch of phylogeny that analyzes genetic, hereditary molecular differences, predominantly in DNA sequences, to gain information on an organism's evolutionary relationships. From these analyses, it is possible to ...
studies have revealed that many of these divisions were not
monophyletic In cladistics for a group of organisms, monophyly is the condition of being a clade—that is, a group of taxa composed only of a common ancestor (or more precisely an ancestral population) and all of its lineal descendants. Monophyletic gro ...
, partly due to homoplasy. These studies demonstrate four major clades within the family. The molecularly defined subdivisions are; * Clade 1: ''Viola'', ''
Schweiggeria ''Schweiggeria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with one or two species, found in eastern Brazil. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally sy ...
'', ''
Noisettia ''Noisettia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with a single known species. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), in axillar ...
'', '' Allexis'' * Clade 2: '' Paypayrola'', '' Hekkingia'' * Clade 3: '' Leonia'', '' Gloeospermum'', '' Amphirrhox'', '' Orthion'', '' Mayanaea'', '' Hybanthus concolor'', the '' Hybanthus havanensis'' Group, and the '' Hybanthus caledonicus'' Group * Clade 4: largely unresolved In Clade 1, ''Schweiggeria'' and ''Noisettia'' are monotypic and form a sister group to ''Viola''. In addition to the major clades, there were a number of unplaced segregates.


Etymology

The family derives its name from the nominative genus, ''
Viola The viola ( , also , ) is a string instrument that is bow (music), bowed, plucked, or played with varying techniques. Slightly larger than a violin, it has a lower and deeper sound. Since the 18th century, it has been the middle or alto voice of ...
''.


Distribution and habitat

The Violaceae have an overall
cosmopolitan distribution In biogeography, cosmopolitan distribution is the term for the range of a taxon that extends across all or most of the world in appropriate habitats. Such a taxon, usually a species, is said to exhibit cosmopolitanism or cosmopolitism. The ext ...
, but are essentially tropical and subtropical, with the exception of the numerous Northern Hemisphere temperate species of ''Viola'', the largest genus, which is also occurs at higher altitudes in its tropical and subtropical regions, where the shrub, tree and lianescent species are concentrated. In those regions, most representative genera are the mainly woody ''Rinorea'' and ''Hybanthus''. While ''Viola'', ''Hybanthus'', and ''Rinorea'' are widely distributed in both hemispheres, the remaining genera are relatively restricted in their distribution. Some are restricted to a single continent while others have a limited area involving just a single
archipelago An archipelago ( ), sometimes called an island group or island chain, is a chain, cluster, or collection of islands, or sometimes a sea containing a small number of scattered islands. Examples of archipelagos include: the Indonesian Archi ...
. About 70 species are found in Brazil. * '' Allexis'', tropical West Africa * '' Amphirrhox'', ''
Anchietea ''Anchietea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with six accepted species, found in tropical South America. Description Lianas or reclining shrubs with oblong-lanceolate to ovate leaves. The flowers, which may be ...
'', '' Gloeospermum'', '' Leonia'', ''
Noisettia ''Noisettia'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with a single known species. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally symmetrical), in axillar ...
'', '' Paypayrola'', tropical South America * '' Corynostylis'', ''
Schweiggeria ''Schweiggeria'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with one or two species, found in eastern Brazil. Description Shrubs, with oblanceolate (wider near tip) leaves. White flowers strongly zygomorphic (bilaterally sy ...
'', tropical Central and South America * ''
Melicytus ''Melicytus'' is a genus of flowering plants in the family Violaceae. ''Hymenanthera'' is a synonym. Species * ''Melicytus alpinus'' – porcupine shrub (New Zealand) *''Melicytus angustifolius'' (New Zealand) Melicytus_dentatus.html" ;"title=" ...
'', New Zealand and nearby islands * '' Hymenanthera'', Australia and New Zealand * ''
Agatea ''Agatea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the violet family Violaceae, with seven accepted species, found in New Guinea and New Caledonia. Description Lianas or reclining shrubs with lanceolate to ovate leaves. The flowers are in terminal ...
'', New Caledonia, New Guinea, and the Fiji Islands * '' Isodendrion'', Sandwich Islands and Hawaii


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{{Taxonbar, from=Q156060 Malpighiales families Taxa named by August Batsch