Viola pratincola E.L. Greene. Section: Nosphinium. Subsection: Borealiamericanae. Common name: Meadow Violet. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Apr-May; chasmogamous fruit Apr-Jul; cleistogamous fruit May-Oct. Habitat: Wet prairies bordering streams and rivers, less often streambanks and swampy woodlands, often invading anthropogenic sites such as low-lying lawns and railroad rights-of-way. Distribution: WI west to ND, south to c. IL, AR, e. TX, and NM.

ID notes: This species would most likely be confused with other species having the glabrous foliage, leaf blades nearly as broad as to broader than long with acute apex, and unspotted cleistogamous capsules on ascending peduncles. In chasmogamous flower it differs from V. communis, V. domestica, V. cucullata, V. missouriensis, V. sororia var. 1, and V. sororia var. 2 in its sparsely bearded spurred petal; additionally from V. communis in its dull narrowly ovate to ovate-deltate leaf blades with acute apex and more prominently serrate margins, and ovate-lanceolate sepals, which are acuminate from near the base; from V. cucullata in its uniformly violet to purple corolla lacking a contrasting eyespot, short truncate auricles, and long lateral petal beards; from V. domestica in its smaller stature, ovate-lanceolate acuminate sepals, and common occupation of wild habitats; from V. missouriensis in its leaf blades with uniformly serrate margins to the apex, and eciliate ovate-lanceolate acuminate sepals; and from V. sororia var. 1 and V. sororia var. 2 in its ovate-lanceolate acuminate sepals. In chasmogamous flower it also differs from V. nephrophylla in its narrowly ovate to ovate-deltate leaf blades with acute apex, ovate-lanceolate acuminate sepals, and sparsely bearded spurred petal; and from V. retusa in its broader less sharply acute leaf blades, and broader sepals. In cleistogamous fruit it can be distinguished from V. missouriensis, V. sororia var. 1 and V. sororia var. 2 by its unspotted cleistogamous capsule on an ascending to erect peduncle, and spotted seeds; from V. communis by its more prominently acute and serrate leaf blades, and ovate-lanceolate acuminate sepals; from V. cucullata by its shorter cleistogamous peduncle, broader sepals less than 1/2 the length of the capsule, auricles weakly elongating, and spotted seeds; from V. domestica by its taller cleistogamous peduncle, ovate-lanceolate acuminate sepals, and more densely spotted seeds; from V. nephrophylla by the ascending to erect cleistogamous peduncle, ovate-lanceolate acuminate sepals, and spotted seeds; and from V. retusa by its broader sepals and smaller seeds.

Origin/Endemic status: Native

Synonymy ⓘ: = GrPl, K4, NS, POWO, Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023); < Viola nephrophylla Greene — FNA6. Basionym: Viola pratincola Greene 1899

Links to other floras: < Viola nephrophylla - FNA6

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Wetland Indicator Status:

• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Great Plains: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Midwest: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FACW (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)
• Northcentral & Northeast: FAC (taxonomic lump from wetland indicator species)