Viola rotundifolia Michaux. Section: Chamaemelanium. Common name: Roundleaf Yellow Violet, Early Yellow Violet. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Mar-May; chasmogamous fruit Apr-Jun; cleistogamous fruit Jul-Sep. Habitat: Rich to acidic coves and other moist forests. Distribution: ME to s. ON, south to w. NC, n. GA, and e. TN.
ID notes: Unmistakable in its large leaves flattened against the ground.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA6, G, K1, K3, K4, NE, Pa, RAB, S, S13, Tat, Tn, Va, W, WV, Ballard () (in prep), Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023), Haines (2001), McKinney & Russell (2002)
Links to other floras: = Viola rotundifolia - FNA6
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FAC
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: FAC
- Midwest: FAC
- Northcentral & Northeast: FAC
Heliophily ⓘ: 2
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Low-growing, rhizomatous perennial found in moist forests, particularly mountain coves.
Stems: Stemless, with leaves and flower stalks arising from a rhizome.
Leaves: Leaves in a basal cluster and lying nearly flat on the ground, round to oval, ¾--4 ¾ in. long, wavy-margined, slightly fleshy and glossy, with minute white hairs.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers several, each on a naked stalk, yellow to cream-yellow, ½--1 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric. Each flower with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one largest and extending behind the flower in a spur and with purple veins on the lowest 3 petals, and the 2 lateral petals bearded at their base.
Fruits:
Comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
Height: 3-6 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Low-growing, rhizomatous perennial found in moist forests, particularly mountain coves.
stems: Stemless, with leaves and flower stalks arising from a rhizome.
leaves: Leaves in a basal cluster and lying nearly flat on the ground, round to oval, ¾--4 ¾ in. long, wavy-margined, slightly fleshy and glossy, with minute white hairs.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers several, each on a naked stalk, yellow to cream-yellow, ½--1 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric. Each flower with 5 unequal petals, the lowest one largest and extending behind the flower in a spur and with purple veins on the lowest 3 petals, and the 2 lateral petals bearded at their base.
fruits:
comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range: