I have an LED which has specified Typical forward voltage of 3.5V and Maximum forward voltage 3.9V.

I applied 3.3V across it with a 300 Ohm resistor in series. Why did it light up?

I am wondering if I can pick this LED as a reliable choice for my design (which as noted runs at 3.3V supply across the board).

My thinking:

The LED datasheet has a curve of Forward current vs Forward voltage (I'm also confused why they put Forward current on the Y-axis instead of X, given that current is what one would vary here). Anyway, the curve shows a decrease in the forward voltage at smaller currents; perhaps this is the explanation?

Here is the downloadable PDF datasheet for this LED (it's a tricolor LED and in this question, I was referring to the specs for Blue and Green).

I have an LED which has specified Typical forward voltage of 3.5V and Maximum forward voltage 3.9V.

I applied 3.3V across it with a 300 Ohm resistor in series. Why did it light up?

I am wondering if I can pick this LED as a reliable choice for my design (which as noted runs at 3.3V supply across the board).

My thinking:

The LED datasheet has a curve of Forward voltage vs current (I'm also confused why they put Forward current on the Y-axis instead of X, given that current is what one would vary here). Anyway, the curve shows a decrease in the forward voltage at smaller currents; perhaps this is the explanation?

Here is the downloadable PDF datasheet for this LED (it's a tricolor LED and in this question, I was referring to the specs for Blue and Green).

I have an LED which has specified Typical forward voltage of 3.6V and Maximum forward voltage even greater. I applied 3.3V across it with a 300 Ohm resistor in series. Why did it light up?

My thinking: The LED datasheet has a curve of Forward current vs Forward voltage (I'm also confused why they put Forward current on the Y-axis instead of X, given that current is what one would vary here). Anyway, the curve shows a decrease in the forward voltage at smaller currents; perhaps this is the explanation?

I am wondering if I can pick this LED as a reliable choice for my design (which as noted runs at 3.3V supply across the board).

I have an LED which has specified Typical forward voltage of 3.5V and Maximum forward voltage 3.9V. 

I applied 3.3V across it with a 300 Ohm resistor in series. Why did it light up?

I am wondering if I can pick this LED as a reliable choice for my design (which as noted runs at 3.3V supply across the board).

My thinking:

The LED datasheet has a curve of Forward current vs Forward voltage (I'm also confused why they put Forward current on the Y-axis instead of X, given that current is what one would vary here). Anyway, the curve shows a decrease in the forward voltage at smaller currents; perhaps this is the explanation?

Here is the downloadable PDF datasheet for this LED (it's a tricolor LED and in this question, I was referring to the specs for Blue and Green).