"The modest, lowly violet in leaves of tender green is set; so rich she cannot hide from view, but covers all the bank with blue."    -- Dora Read Goodale

Interactions

Viola sororia is involved mainly in mutualistic symbioses, in which both organisms benefit from their interaction with each other.

One evident interaction is that of insect pollination. For most flowers, when a bee arrives at the nectar site, it must touch the anther to pick up the pollen on it. However, this does not happen in Viola sororia. As the insect sticks its head in for nectar, its wiggling movements cause pollen grains from the partly hidden anthers overhead to drop and dust the bee's back. In this interaction, the bee benefits by getting its food, while the plant now has a means for dispersing its pollen for reproduction in other areas. Insect pollination rarely occurs in Viola sororia, but there are some bees that do interact with the species, such as the Mason bees and Halictid bees. Because of this small chance of insect pollination, the cleistogamous flowers are very essential for reproduction.

Other insects that are sometimes attracted to the flowers of Viola sororia include skippers and Syrphid flies. However, the Syrphid flies are non-pollinating because they feed only on stray pollen. This symbiosis can be classified as a commensalism, an interaction in which only one of the symbionts benefit, but the other one is not intimately harmed either.

Another mutual interaction that Viola sororia engages in is its interaction with some species of ants. This symbiotic relationship is called myrmecochory, which literally means "ant farming." In this interaction, the ants are drawn to ripe seeds of Viola sororia by small protuberances called elaiosomes that contain attractive oils and possibly sugars. These ants will carry the seeds to their nests where they eat.  However, the shell is too hard to open, so after eating, they will discard the seed proper, often into an unused tunnel in the nest. In this tunnel, the seed has a much better chance of producing a plant due to the nutrients provided by the soil and housecleaning ants. In addition, the seed is protected from foraging birds and rodents that pick up seeds dropped on the open forest floor. In some environments, by engaging in myrmecochory, the seeds of Viola sororia are protected from wildfires, as well. Other organisms that involve in this symbiosis include trilliums, bloodrot, anemones, wild ginger, and hepaticas.

Viola sororia is also involved in many other interactions. One is with the caterpillars of many Fritallary butterflies, in which the caterpillars feed on foliage leaves of Viola sororia. These butterflies include Speyeria diane (Diana), Euptoieta claudia (Variegated Fritillary), Speyeria aphrodite (Aphrodite Fritillary), Boloria bellona (Meadow Fritillary), and Boloria selene myrina (Silver-Border Fritillary). Occasionally, wild upland gamebirds and small mammals eat the seeds. These organisms include Wild Turkey, which also eat the leaves and fleshy roots of violets, Bobwhite, Mourning Dove, and the White-Footed Mouse.

Everything so far as been quite intriguing, huh?! To find out more interesting facts about the Common Blue Violet, head on over to the Facts page!  You will also find out how humans use wood violets! Be prepared to be amazed at how much we can potentially do with these organisms!

 

Links