Viola (odorata or tricolor)

[asteckley]

Rene and Jorge, I’m interested in your thoughts on why you consider this illustration as specifically more likely to represent Viola triolor rather than Viola bicolor. As you know, the argument that You are not allowed to view links. Register or Login to view. is more likely the latter has been made by well-credentialed botanical experts, but is typically rejected for extraneous reasons, which conflicts with a proper analysis of the botanical features.

But since in this thread, your are clearly attempting a more objective assessment of the drawing, I’m genuinely curious how you view the specific points raised by Tucker and Janick:

"This phytomorph (Fig. 4.142a) clearly shows linear, terminal stipular lobes, as in the North American native V. bicolor Pursh (V. rafinesquei Greene) (Fig. 4.142b)—not spatulate, as in the Eurasian V. tricolor L. Also, this phytomorph matches the blue flowers of V. bicolor, not the tricolored ones of V. tricolor; V. bicolor flowers are uniformly cream to blue, whereas those of V. tricolor usually have two purple upper petals and three cream to yellow lower petals ..."

(I have my own reasons for being dubious of the case, but am curious to see how they compare with yours.)