*Viola inconspicua Blume. Common name: Asian Wedgeleaf Violet. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Nov-Apr; chasmogamous fruit Dec-May (-Sep); cleistogamous fruit Jan-Dec. Habitat: Disturbed areas, parking lots, gardens, increasingly appearing in natural areas. Distribution: Native of e. Asia. Probably considerably more widespread than currently mapped, spreading rapidly in nursery material. Reported for s. AL (Baldwin County) by Keener et al. (2024).

ID notes: This species and others most similar to it belong to the predominately Asian subsect. Patellares, which consists of acaulescent non-stoloniferous violets with stipule at least half adnate to their petiole, somewhat to very elongate spur, and mostly violet to purple corolla. Three species in the subsection that are introduced in or near our region, including this one, have leaf blade longer than broad. This species differs from V. japonica in its glabrous foliage, proportionally shorter petiole, shorter spur, and densely bearded lateral petal. It is distinct from V. patrinii in lacking broad wings on the proportionally longer petiole, and in its violet to purple corolla.

Origin/Endemic status: E., se., and s. Asia

Synonymy ⓘ: = K4, POWO, Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023), Lin et al (2013); = n/a — Fl2, FNA6, NS, RAB, S, WH3. Basionym: Viola inconspicua Blume 1823

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