Viola rostrata Pursh. Common name: Long-spurred Violet. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Apr-Jun (Jul) chasmogamous fruit Apr-Jun; cleistogamous fruit Jul-Aug. Habitat: Acidic cove forests, other mesic forests, often under Tsuga canadensis, but also in calcareous forests (as in n. AL). Distribution: NH and QC west to WI, south to GA and AL.
ID notes: In chasmogamous flower this caulescent species is unmistakable in its very elongate spur, glabrous petals, and pale violet corolla with dense coalescing nectar-guide lines forming a conspicuously contrasting dark eyespot around the throat. In cleistogamous fruit it is most often confused with species commonly growing with it: V. canadensis, V. eriocarpa, V. labradorica, and V. striata. It differs from V. canadensis in its wholly herbaceous weakly lacerate stipules, and leaf blades with remotely serrate-crenate margins; from V. eriocarpa in its glabrous foliage or leaf blades with sparse small hairs, and wholly herbaceous weakly lacerate stipules; and from V. labradorica and V. striata in its proportionally longer leaf blades with a more prolonged abruptly acute to acuminate apex and remote serrate-crenate margins, and proportionally longer stipules.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = Can, F, FNA6, G, K4, NE, NS, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Va, W, WV, Ballard () (in prep), Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023), Haines (2001), McKinney & Russell (2002). Basionym: Viola rostrata Pursh 1814 [1813]
Links to other floras: = Viola rostrata - FNA6
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Wetland Indicator Status:
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACU
- Midwest: FACU
- Northcentral & Northeast: FACU
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Jim Fowler | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Armin Weise CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Erik Danielson source | Original Image ⭷Feedback
Horticultural Information
Intro: Tufted, erect-ascending perennial found in acidic cove forests and other moist forests, often under hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).
Stems: Stems several from a rhizome, smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate; on petioles with narrow, usually fringed stipules at the base; heart-shaped to oval; 3/4-2 3/4 in. long and wide; shallowly toothed and mostly smooth (hairs on mid-vein).
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary on slender stalks from upper leaf axils, lavender or bluish-violet and streaked with dark purple, 1/2-1 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one largest and extending behind the flower in a 3/4-in.-long spur.
Fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.
Comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
Height: to 10 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Tufted, erect-ascending perennial found in acidic cove forests and other moist forests, often under hemlock (Tsuga canadensis).
stems: Stems several from a rhizome, smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate; on petioles with narrow, usually fringed stipules at the base; heart-shaped to oval; 3/4-2 3/4 in. long and wide; shallowly toothed and mostly smooth (hairs on mid-vein).
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary on slender stalks from upper leaf axils, lavender or bluish-violet and streaked with dark purple, 1/2-1 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one largest and extending behind the flower in a 3/4-in.-long spur.
fruits: Fruit an oval capsule.
comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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