VIOLA cucullata 'Striata Alba' Viola ____________________________________ Type: Perennial Height: 3-5" (8-12 cm) Flowering Time: Spring, summer Flower Colour: White ____________________________________ Botanical Classification: Class: Angiospermae (Angiosperms) Subclass: Dicotyledonae (Dicotyledons) Superorder: Dilleniidae (Dillenia Superorder) Order: Violales (Viola Order) Family: Violaceae (Viola Family) Genus: Viola (Viola) Species: cucullata (hooded), striata (with stripes) ____________________________________

Viola cucullata var striata is one of my favourite Violas. It is herbaceous, with knobbly rhizomes, which produce a spreading clump of large, heart-shaped leaves in spring, and large, sturdy, white rounded violets with purple lines and a yellow blotch in the throat. The flowers initially grow before the leaves, but by summer the plant is a dense hummock of leaves and flowers. Although most violets prefer shady conditions, mine is doing well on a sunny rockery.

As well as being grown from seed, the plant can be divided, but it also self-seeds profusely in my garden. Like many violets, it is cleistogamous - it can produce seeds without flowers being pollinated.

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Harvesting and Growing from Seed:

				Germination: Autumn Outside (197 days)Spring Inside (12 days)
Seed Pod The seedpod is pointed, opening into three sections, with the seeds neatly arranged on each part. When the seeds are released, the sides of each part close together. Seed The seeds are fat brown teardrops. There are many seeds in a seedpod. Seedling The seedleaves are rounded. The first true leaves are heart-shaped.