Hooded blue violet facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hooded blue violet |
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| Scientific classification | |
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Viola (plant)
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| Species: |
cucullata
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The Hooded Blue Violet, also known as the Marsh Blue Violet or Purple Violet, is a beautiful wild flower. Its scientific name is Viola cucullata. This plant belongs to the Violet family. You can find it growing naturally across eastern North America. It stretches from Newfoundland in the east, all the way west to Ontario and Minnesota, and south to Georgia. This violet is so lovely that it has even won a special award called the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit for being a great plant for gardens!
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About the Hooded Blue Violet
The Hooded Blue Violet is a perennial plant. This means it lives for more than two years. It is also an herbaceous plant, which means it has soft stems instead of woody ones like trees. This violet usually grows to be about 20 centimeters (8 inches) tall.
Leaves and Flowers
The leaves of the Hooded Blue Violet grow in a bunch near the ground. They are simple leaves, meaning each leaf is one single piece. They can be up to 10 centimeters (4 inches) wide. The edges of the leaves are smooth, and they have a long stem called a petiole.
The flowers of this violet are usually bright violet or dark blue. Sometimes, you might even find white ones! Each flower has five petals.
Life Cycle and Seeds
After the flowers bloom, the plant produces a capsule. This capsule is a type of fruit, about 10 to 15 millimeters (0.4 to 0.6 inches) long. When the capsule is fully grown, it splits open into three parts. This releases many tiny seeds, which can then grow into new violet plants.
Symbolism of the Purple Violet
The purple violet is more than just a pretty flower. It holds special meaning in a few places and groups.
Provincial Flower
The purple violet is the official flower of New Brunswick. This is one of the provinces in Canada.
Fraternity and Sorority Flower
The purple violet is also an important symbol for some college groups. It is the official flower of the sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma. It is also one of the official flowers for the fraternity Sigma Phi Epsilon.
