Sweet violets Viola odorata produce two types of
flower - the familiar scented kind that are amongst the first wild flowers to
appear in spring and are pollinated by bumblebees, and a summer cleistogamous
version that remains as a closed bud and self-pollinates without the
intervention of insects. Insect pollination in early spring can be a chancy,
hit-or-miss affair but, come what may, the cleistogamous flowers aways produce
seeds in early autumn. This is a seed capsule of one such that I found in the
garden, splitting open in three segments to release its seeds. Each seed has a
small, white, oily attachment, an elaiosome, that ants find irresistible. They
carry the seeds away so, if you grow violets in a garden, seedlings are likely
to appear in unexpected places.
I’ve sown some freshly collected sweet violet seeds now,
because they’ll need vernalisation, subjection to the freezing temperatures of
winter, to break their dormancy.
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