It seems fairly well agreed that like the Greek ἴον, the Romans used the name viola for two different plants.
1. The white flower was:
| L |
Flora Eur. 300 |
E | stock, gilliflower | S | Matthiola incana (L.) R. Br. |
| G | Levkoje, Garten-Levkoje, Summer-Levkoje | F | giroflée | I | violacciocca |
|
G. 4.275 (nigra) |
E. 2.47 (pallens) 5.38 10.39 |
A. 11.69 |
 Matthiola.incana.1.jpg |
 Matthiola.incana.2.jpg |
 Matthiola.incana.3.jpg |
 Matthiola.incana.4.jpg |
 Matthiola.incana.5.jpg |
 Matthiola.incana.6.jpg |
According to Jashemski (2002: 125): "The 'violet beds' (violaria) mentioned by the ancient authors were probably the stock." So too Jashemski 1979, 79, 271.
2. The dark flower was:
| L |
Flora Eur. 924 |
E | violet, sweet violet | S | Viola odorata L. |
| G | Veilchen, Märzveilchen | F | violette odorante | I | violetta, viola mammola |
 Viola.odorata.1.jpg |
 Viola.odorata.2.jpg |
 Viola.odorata.3.jpg |
 Viola.odorata.4.jpg |
 Viola.odorata.5.jpg |
 Viola.odorata.6.jpg |
Jashemski (2002: 170-71) also identifies the carbonized remains from Oplontis as more likely to be the wild violet or field pansy, Viola arvensis Murray.
 Viola.arvensis.1.jpg |
 Viola.arvensis.3.jpg |
 Viola.arvensis.4.jpg |
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