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Weed Identification

Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Science Virginia Cooperative Extension

European field pansy

Family

Violaceae

Scientific Name

Viola arvensis
Weed photograph 1
Weed photograph 2
Weed photograph 3
Weed photograph 4
Weed photograph 5
Weed photograph 6
Weed photograph 7

Other Common Names:

wild violet
field pansy

Synonyms (former Scientific Names):

Viola tricolor var. arvensis

Habit

Small winter annual weed common in the northeastern US and has attractive white/yellow/purple flowers on long slender stalks. Plants range from 4 to 10 in tall. Seeds are dispersed in the spring and germinate in fall.

Leaves

Young seedlings have small (3 to 5 mm) cotyledons. The first five to ten leaves are oval and have rounded teeth on the margins. These first leaves are born on stalks that are nearly as long as the leaf. Subsequent leaves are arranged alternately but form a basal rosette. Leaves usually lack hairs although some hairs may be found on the main stem or under side of the leaf. Leaves have rounded teeth. Leaves on flowering stalks are more linear while those on lower plant parts are oval. Flowering stalks also have stipules that are divided into 5 to 9 linear segments.

Identifying Characteristics

Flowers are the typical violet type and are white with yellow and purple markings. Flowers are born on long stalks. The plant is more stemy than other violets and grows to over 10 in tall. Roots smell like wintergreen gum when crushed.

Flower Seed Head

Flowers are white with yellow markings and often with purple accents born on long stalks (peduncles) that arise from leaf axils. Each flower is 1 inch in diameter. Flowers have 5 petals arranged with four on top and one larger petal on the bottom.

Seed Fruit

Many seeds are contained in a single oval fruit pod at the end of long slender stalks. Each fruit capsul is 5 to 10 mm long and contains numerous 1 mm diameter seeds.

Where Found

Field violet is a weed of turf, nurseries, and waste places. It may also be found in winter crops like small grains.

Growth Habit

prostrate and nonwoody

Thorns or Spines

not present

Approximate Flower Diameter

Varies: 
dime, 
nickle, 
quarter

Dominant Flower Color

Varies: 
white, 
yellow, 
blue, 
purple

Flower Symmetry

Varies: 
radial symmetery, 
bilateral symmetry

Leaf Hairs

Varies: 
has hairs, 
no hairs

Leaf Shape

lance

Leaf Arrangement

Varies: 
alternate, 
whorled

Leaf Margin

Varies: 
entire, 
serrated

Leaf Structure

simple

Leaf Stalk

Varies: 
shorter than leaf, 
longer than leaf

Stem Hairs

no hairs

Stem Cross Section

round or oval

Milky Sap

not present

Root Structure

fibrous

Life Cycle

winter annual

Ochrea

not present

Plant Type

Herb