Trees, shrubs or herbs. Leaves simple, alternate, usually with stipules. Inflorescence racemose; pedicels with 2 bracteoles; flowers 5-partite, regular or zygomorphic, bisexual, hypogynous, heterochlamydeous; corolla spurred when zygomorphic. Stamens 5, alternate with the petals, the 2 lower ones spurred in zygomorphic flowers; anthers connivent around the ovary, introrse; filaments short; connective often elongated. Style 1, simple, often curved or thickened above; stigma variously developed. Fruit a capsule or berry; endosperm fleshy, copious; embryo straight.

About 22 genera and 900 species, almost cosmopolitan.

Viola L.

Perennial or annual herbs. Leaves alternate; stipules persistent, sometimes leafy. Inflorescence of solitary axillary flowers. Sepals 5, each with an appendage projecting in the opposite direction from it. Petals 5, spreading, unequal, the lowermost larger than the others and spurred or saccate at the base. Stamens 5, subsessile, the lowermost 2 frequently with basal spurs running back into the spur of the lowermost petal; anthers with conspicuous, membranous connectives. Style 1, usually simple, sometimes wanting; stigma terminal, often conspicuously thickened. Fruit a 3-valved, loculicidal capsule, frequently dehiscing explosively; seeds rather large, sometimes with an elaiosome.

About 400 species, mostly in temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, but in total cosmopolitan.