Scientific Family
Violaceae
Synonyms
Viola maccabeana, Viola pratincola, Viola retusa, Viola austiniae, Viola lunellii, Viola peramoena, Viola prionosepala
Other common names
prairie blueviolet
wanderer violet
wild pansy
wild violet
Plant type
Forbs and Subshrubs
Origin
Native
Lifecycle
Annual or perennial
Height
2 to 10 inches
Riparian
Yes
Stemless plant; both leaf stalks and flower stalks are attached directly to the rootstock; flowers have 5 petals, 2 upper, 2 at the side and 1 below.
Leaves simple, not divided, arising from base of plant, stalked, with serrated margins; flowers solitary in leaf axils; 5 petaled, bluish-purple to purple, on 1 to 6 inch long stalks, 5 sepals oval to lance-like, sepals to 1/2 inch long.
Habitat
Found in moist soils along streams, seeps, springs, and also in shaded sites.
Plant Community
Riparian
Pinyon Juniper Woodlands
Montane Conifer Forest
Interior Chaparral
Low elevation
5000
High elevation
9500
Flower Characteristics
Solitary flowers above leaves; hairless stalk, 1 to 6 inches; 5 oval to lance-like sepals, 1/4 to 1/2 inch long; 5 bluish-purple petals, lighter, purple veined at base, 1/2 to 3/4 inch long; spurred (hollow nectar sac), lower petal indented at tip, hairy.
Flower color
Bluish-purple to purple
Flower shape
Irregular
Tubular
No
First bloom month
April
Last bloom month
June
Flower clusters
None
Leaf and Stem Characteristics
Stems 10 inches long, fine hairs; 4 to 7 basal leaves, kidney-shaped, to 3 inches, lower leaf surface with fine hairs, upper surface hairless; shallow, rounded teeth on margins, blunt leaf tips.
Leaf type
Simple
Leaf color
Green
Leaf shape
Other
Leaf margin
Toothed
Leaves clasp
No
Leaf hairs
Leaves & stems
Spines
No
Fruit and Seed Characteristics
Oval, capsule up to about 1/2 inch long, initially green, erect when mature and drying tan.
Fruit type
Capsule
Fruit color
Green, light brown
Medium brown to dark olive-brown, 1/16 inch long.