Viola labradorica Schrank. Section: Viola. Subsection: Rostratae. Common name: American Dog-violet. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Mar-Jul; chasmogamous fruit Jun-Aug; cleistogamous fruit Aug-Sep. Habitat: Moist alluvial woodlands and forests, seepage slopes, marl ravines, hammocks. Distribution: NL (Labrador) west to AK, south to e. VA, nw. SC (Gaddy et al. 1984), n. GA, c. AL, and OH; disjunct in sw. GA and Panhandle FL.
ID notes: This species might be confused with the caulescent habit and white to occasionally pale violet flower of the newly confirmed Asian introduction V. arcuata if the deltate-ovate to deltate-reniform leaf blades and entire or minutely toothed stipules of the latter were ignored, but the few fine nectar-guide lines on the spurred petal and the longer spur would differentiate V. labradorica. It is similar to V. appalachiensis in general foliage and pubescence characters, pale blue corolla with moderately long spur, and weakly lacerate stipules, but it is not mat-forming and the stems are annually deciduous.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Taxonomy Comments: Ballard (1992) concluded that V. conspersa was not distinct from V. labradorica.
Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, Fl2, FNA6, Il, K4, NE, NS, Pa, POWO, Tn, Va, WH3, Ballard () (in prep), Ballard (1992a), Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023), Haines (2001), McKinney & Russell (2002); > Viola conspersa Rchb. — C, F, G, GW2, RAB, S, S13, Tat, W, WV. Basionym: Viola labradorica Schrank 1818
Links to other floras: = Viola labradorica - FNA6
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Great Plains: FAC
- Midwest: FACW
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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© Alan Cressler: Viola labradorica, Panther Creek Gorge, Chattahoochee National Forest, Habersham County, Georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Kyle Filicky CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Alan M. Cressler | Original Image ⭷
© Joey Shaw source | Original Image ⭷
© Armin Weise CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷
© Kyle Filicky CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Kyle Filicky CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Kyle Filicky CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Armin Weise CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Ascending perennial of moist alluvial woodlands and forests, seepage slopes, marl ravines and hammocks.
Stems: Stems usually several and clustered, unbranched, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, on petioles with sharply toothed stipules at the base, round or kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, 1/2-1 1/2 in. long, with flattened teeth and smooth to slightly hairy above.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks from leaf axils, violet or light blue-violet (or white), often lacking darker veins, 1/2-3/4 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one extending behind the flower in a stout spur and the 2 lateral ones bearded.
Fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
Comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
Height: 2-8 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Ascending perennial of moist alluvial woodlands and forests, seepage slopes, marl ravines and hammocks.
stems: Stems usually several and clustered, unbranched, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate, on petioles with sharply toothed stipules at the base, round or kidney-shaped or heart-shaped, 1/2-1 1/2 in. long, with flattened teeth and smooth to slightly hairy above.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary on stalks from leaf axils, violet or light blue-violet (or white), often lacking darker veins, 1/2-3/4 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one extending behind the flower in a stout spur and the 2 lateral ones bearded.
fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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