1 All petals glabrous within; corolla concolorous blue or lower three petals blue and upper pair purple-black; stipules long-adnate to petiole; rhizome erect, barrel-like; cleistogamous flowers absent.

..2 Largest leaf blades oblanceolate to obspatulate in outline, apically toothed or incised; [Fall-line Sandhills region of NC south to GA]

..2 Largest leaf blades ovate to reniform in outline, pedately or bi- to triternately divided.

....3 Largest leaf blades bi- to triternately divided; [sw. NJ and se. PA to w. MD, south to wc. VA and se. WV]

....3 Largest leaf blades pedately divided; [widespread]

1 Lateral petals bearded within, sometimes the spurred petal also; corolla concolorous except for expanded white area from the throat in a few species; stipules free; rhizome horizontal or ascending, sometimes branching, not barrel-like; cleistogamous flowers produced.

......4 Plant homophyllous, all blades lobed or dissected (plants with largest leaf blades shallowly lobed are frequent de novo hybrids between species producing deeply divided leaves and V. sororia and other species with unlobed leaf blades; they will not key readily and must be inferred by association with the parent species).

........5 Petioles glabrous, leaf blades sparsely appressed-hirtellous on veins, margins appressed-ciliolate; spurred petal densely bearded; lowest sepals lanceolate, sharply acute; auricles prominent, elongating in fruit to 6 mm; cleistogamous capsules green drying tan, unspotted, on erect peduncles nearly or fully as long as petioles; seeds 1.3-2.0 × 0.9-1.3 mm, narrowly obovoid, medium brown to orange-brown, unspotted.

..........6 Largest leaf blades narrowly ovate to ovate in outline, cordate at base, biternately divided into 7 or 9 ultimate lanceolate segments, terminal ultimate segment of terminal primary division commonly distinctly broader and well surpassing lateral segments; calyx eciliate or auricles infrequently irregularly ciliolate; seeds 1.3-1.9 × 0.9-1.3 mm; [sandy or peaty soils of brackish marshes, streambanks and ditches, Atlantic Coastal Plain]

..........6 Largest leaf blades reniform in outline, broadly rounded to subcordate at base, triternately divided into (13)17-25 narrowly linear ultimate segments, terminal ultimate segment of terminal primary division neither distinctly broader nor longer than lateral segments; calyx usually ciliate; seeds 1.7-2.0 × 1.1-1.3 mm; [blacksoil prairies and savanna openings of Midwest to Great Plains and Southwest, disjunct in s. ON and n. OH]

........5 Foliage glabrous or petioles and at least lower surface of leaf blades hirsute, margins often ciliate; spurred petal glabrous; lowest sepals oblong to ovate, obtuse to rounded at apex (lance- to ovate-triangular and acuminate in V. monacanora); auricles short and rounded, not elongating in fruit; cleistogamous capsules purple-spotted, on prostrate or arching peduncles shorter than petioles; seeds 1.6-2.4 × 1.1-1.7 mm, various but not medium brown to orange-brown, mostly spotted or blotched.

............ 7 Foliage glabrous (petioles uncommonly sparsely hirsute in Viola species 4); calyx eciliate; lowest sepals acuminate [restricted to montane NC and/or VA].

............ ..8 Largest leaf blades in chasmogamous flower ovate and deeply bi- to subtriternately divided, leaf blades in fruit orbicular to reniform and tri- to tetraternately dissected into 17-27 narrowly linear ultimate lobes, these narrowly rounded at apex, margins entire, primary divisions distinctly constricted at base into a very slender elongate "petiolule"; lower surface of blade distinctly paler than upper, not purple-tinged; lowest sepals broadly acute to obtuse; seeds 2.2-2.4 × 1.1-1.7 mm, pinkish-gray or gray to olive-gray with dense minute raised blackish spots; [dry silty soils of woodland borders surrounding shale barrens in Alleghany and Bath Cos., VA]

............ ..8 Largest leaf blades in chasmogamous flower narrowly ovate and palmatifid, leaves in fruit ovate, biternately divided into 9-11(13) usually slightly falcate ultimate lobes, these becoming asymmetrically angulate at apex in fruit, outer margins of lobes with 1-3 incurved teeth, primary divisions not narrowed or constricted at base; lower surface of leaf blade not distinctly paler than upper, purple-tinged; lowest sepals acuminate; seeds 1.8-2.1 × 1.2-1.4, dark brown with dense raised black reticulations; [moist loam soils of rich mesic rocky woodlands in Blue Ridge Mountains of w. VA and nw. NC]

............ 7 Foliage moderately to densely hirsute; calyx ciliate; lowest sepals ovate-lanceolate to broadly ovate, obtuse to broadly rounded (sometimes acute in V. baxteri).

............ ....9 Largest leaf blades biternately to subtriternately divided into 9-13(15) narrowly linear-lanceolate lobes < 3 mm wide (in chasmogamous flower), the lateral second-order lobes of the terminal primary division attached medially, second-order lobes usually with a prominent slender spreading sharply acute tooth or short lobe on each side; primary divisions commonly narrowed at base to slender "petiolules"; foliage and peduncles not purple-tinged; lowest sepals acute or obtuse; seeds ivory, unspotted or occasionally with small weak light brown blotches or streaks; [limestone prairies and prairie-like openings, lower elevations in e. Great Lakes region, w. NY to sw. Ontario and se. MI, south to sw. PA, sw. OH and ne. IN]

............ ....9 Largest leaf blades (sub)biternately divided into 7 or 9 broadly linear or lanceolate lobes > 3 mm wide (in chasmogamous flower), the second-order lobes of the terminal primary division attached medially or basally, second-order lobes entire or with 1-2 inconspicuous short appressed or incurved teeth on each side; primary divisions not distinctly narrowed at base (distinctly narrowed in “Chapel Hill” variant); lower surface of leaf blades, petioles and peduncles often purple-tinged; lowest sepals obtuse to rounded; seeds light brown with small prominent dark orange-brown streaks, or light to medium gray with small prominent darker gray blotches or streaks; [dry-mesic woodlands, not consistently associated with limestone, widely distributed in Appalachian Mtns and e. Piedmont, New England south to n. AL and se. TN].

............ ......10 Leaf blades subternately divided, secondary lobes on terminal primary division rhombic-lanceolate, divergent, lateral primary divisions rhombic in outline, all distinctly narrowed into a short “petiolule” at base, all lobes with an additional slender elongate lobe on outside margin (leaf vaguely resembling Anemone multifida); [Piedmont of c. NC]

............ ......10 Leaf blades biternately divided, not usually narrowed into a distinct “petiolule” at base, secondary lobes of terminal primary division erect or spreading, lobes entire or with a small subappressed tooth on outside margin; [Appalachian Mountain highlands and n. Piedmont]

......4 Plant heterophyllous, producing leaf blades with lobes, coarse teeth or incisions during chasmogamous flowering and cleistogamous fruiting, and undivided leaf blades in very early spring and late autumn (often retaining one or more undivided blades).

............ ........11 At least some petioles prominently winged.

............ ..........12 Foliage densely hirtellous, uniform green; at least the outer leaves spreading or prostrate; petioles shorter than (in chasmogamous flower) to 2 × longer (in fruit) than blades; largest leaf blades broadly elliptical to narrowly oblong-ovate or narrowly ovate-triangular in outline, in fruit developing 1-2(3) coarse apically oriented basal teeth on each side; peduncle hirtellous; calyx ciliate; corolla purple, petals broadly rounded, spurred petal not medially compressed; peduncle of cleistogamous capsule declined; seeds 1.4-1.9 × 0.9-1.3 mm, medium brown with small darker brown spots

............ ..........12 Foliage glabrous or surfaces of leaf blades sparsely appressed-hirsute, blue-green, lower surface of blades, petioles and peduncles flushed with purple; leaves erect; petioles > 2 × as long as leaf blades; largest leaf blades narrowly ovate-triangular, triangular or deltate-triangular in outline, in flower or fruit developing 2-4 divergent narrowly elliptical to oblong lobes or slender linear processes on each side; peduncle glabrous; calyx eciliate; corolla violet, petals commonly emarginate, spurred petal commonly medially compressed; peduncle of cleistogamous capsule erect; seeds 1.4-2.2 × 0.9-1.5 mm, pinkish-gray to dark gray with prominent darker streaks and spots.

............ ............ 13 Largest leaf blades either with terminal division long and narrowly linear to oblong-linear and 2-4 elongate linear lobes or processes at the base or distributed along the margin on each side; [Piedmont and Appalachian Mountains in southern Virginia to western South Carolina].

............ ............ ..14 Largest leaf blades resembling a walkingstick insect (Diapheromera femorata), with main axis narrowly oblong-linear, each margin with 2-4 long, slender, variously bent processes scattered on basal ½ of each margin; peduncle bracts 5-10 mm long; [sc. VA and c. NC]

............ ............ ..14 Largest leaf blades resembling a sword, each side with 1-2 long slender spreading falcate-linear processes at the base, occasionally with an additional process on one side a little above the base; [bimodal and sporadic in the Appalachian Mountains, sw. VA & sw. NC & adjacent nw. SC]

............ ............ 13 Largest leaf blades narrowly triangular to triangular-deltate in outline including lobes, with 2-3 basal narrowly elliptical or angulate oblong lobes on each side; peduncle bracts < 5 mm long; [Atlantic Coastal Plain and Piedmont].

............ ............ ....15 Largest leaf blades broadly triangular-deltate in outline, terminal primary division excluding lobes lanceolate to linear-oblong, commonly with a short divergent angulate lanceolate to oblong submedial lobe on each side, each lateral primary division 2-3-cleft or with 2-3 lanceolate or angulate oblong lobes; [Piedmont of c. and w. NC]

............ ............ ....15 Largest leaf blades triangular to triangular-deltate in outline, terminal primary division triangular and unlobed, each lateral primary division with 2-3 broad triangular basal lobes; [Atlantic Coastal Plain and Piedmont]

............ ........11 Petioles not prominently winged.

............ ............ ......16 Largest leaf blades distinctly longer than broad (blade length:width ratio > 1.3).

............ ............ ........17 Leaves erect or widely spreading in life; leaf blades narrowly ovate-triangular to narrowly ovate or broadly oblong-lanceolate, lateral lobes short and rounded (in V. pedatiloba), short and angulate during chasmogamous flower but elongating to ≥ 1/4 length of the midrib in fruit (in V. edulis), or variously short and elliptical or longer and linear and ≥ 1/4 length of the midrib (in V. viarum); foliage strictly glabrous; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to ovate-triangular; spurred petal glabrous or sparsely bearded within; [diverse substrates of bottomland sites along streams and rivers, Atlantic and Gulf Coast or central and lower Midwest].

............ ............ ..........18 Leaves ascending to erect in life; leaf blades ovate-triangular to narrowly ovate, slender lateral lobes already 1/4-1/2 midrib length during chasmogamous flower; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to lanceolate; spurred petal sparsely bearded within; [thin alluvial soils amid limestone gravel or rubble or cracks in limestone bedrock along streams and rivers mainly in the n. Ozarks and Missouri River drainage of the central and lower Midwest]

............ ............ ..........18 Leaves widely spreading in life; leaf blades narrowly ovate-triangular or broadly oblong-lanceolate, lateral lobes short and rounded (in V. pedatiloba) or short and angulate during chasmogamous flower and elongating during fruit (in V. edulis); lowest sepals ovate-triangular; spurred petal glabrous within; [floodplains of streams and rivers along the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains]

............ ............ ............ 19 Leaf blades narrowly ovate-triangular in chasmogamous flower, broadening to ovate-triangular in cleistogamous fruit; lateral lobes angulate, marginal dentition incurved-serrate; seeds brown with dense minute black spots or reticulations; [e. Atlantic Coastal Plain]

............ ............ ............ 19 Leaf blades broadly oblong-lanceolate; lateral lobes rounded, marginal dentition prominently crenate; seeds blackish; [w. side of Mississippi embayment in e.-c. AR, se. LA]

............ ............ ......16 Largest leaf blades slightly longer than broad to broader than long (blade length:width ratio < 1.3).

............ ............ ............ ..20 Foliage glabrate, puberulent or hirsute (occasionally essentially glabrous in V. stoneana); calyx eciliate or ciliate; lowest sepals various; auricles short and rounded and not elongating in fruit (prominent and weakly elongating in fruit in V. stoneana); cleistogamous capsule finely to heavily purple-spotted or -blotched, on initially prostrate peduncle arching upward just before dehiscence (peduncle suberect in V. stoneana).

............ ............ ............ ....21 Largest lobed leaf blades biternately divided, the terminal primary division with lateral lobes.

............ ............ ............ ......22 Central and lateral lobes of terminal primary division rhombic-lanceolate, lateral lobes inserted well above the base of the central lobe, widely divergent; base of terminal and lateral primary divisions usually constricted to a slender elongate "petiolule"; foliage essentially glabrous, or petioles and lower surface of leaf blades sparsely hirsute and margins of blades sparsely ciliolate; calyx eciliate; lowest sepals lance-triangular, acuminate; seeds ivory to tan or light gray-brown, unspotted or with weak brown rectangular blotches; [rich mesic forests along "fall line" between lower Piedmont and upper Atlantic Coastal Plain, NJ south to c. VA, disjunct in ec. NC]

............ ............ ............ ......22 Central and lateral lobes of terminal primary division linear-lanceolate, lateral lobes inserted near or just above the base of the central lobe, strongly ascending or widely divergent; base of primary divisions not constricted to a slender elongate “petiolule”; petioles and lower surface of leaf blades moderately to densely hirsute, margins of blades ciliate; calyx ciliate; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate and acuminate or oblong-ovate to ovate and obtuse to rounded; seeds light brown to light orange-brown with small darker brown streaks or blotches; [Appalachian Mountains, or Gulf Coastal Plain and Mississippi Embayment region].

............ ............ ............ ........23 Lateral lobes of terminal primary division strongly ascending; lowest sepals oblong to ovate, obtuse to rounded; [Appalachian Mountains, from s. PA south to w. NC]

............ ............ ............ ........23 Lateral lobes of terminal primary division widely divergent; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate; [Gulf Coastal Plain and Mississippi Embayment region, w. GA to c. AR]

............ ............ ............ ....21 Largest lobed leaf blades pedately divided, the terminal primary division lacking lateral lobes

............ ............ ............ ..........24 Foliage glabrate or puberulent; [n. AL and n. GA, or w. Gulf Coast region and Lower Midwest].

............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Foliage puberulent; primary terminal lobe and main lobes of lateral divisions distinctly broader than any intermediary lobes; calyx eciliate; spurred petal glabrous or sparsely bearded within; [s. & w. AR to c. OK, south to se. LA and sc. TX]

............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Foliage glabrate or sparsely hirsute on petioles and lower surface of leaf blades; all lobes of primary terminal and lateral divisions approximately equal in size and shape; spurred petal glabrous within; [n. AL and n. GA]

............ ............ ............ ..........24 Foliage moderately to densely hirsute; [Ridge and Valley Province of w. VA, or widespread in eastern North America].

............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Foliage puberulent or minutely puberulent; primary terminal lobe and main lobes of lateral divisions Larger leaf blades shallowly to moderately divided into 3 or 5 lobes, central lobe of terminal primary division narrowly ovate or ovate-triangular, significantly larger than lateral primary lobes or intermediary lobes between terminal and lateral primary divisions, primary divisions separated by sinuses not usually > 2/3 the distance to petiole summit (shallowly lobed plants in the range of V. palmata var. dilatata are probable de novo hybrids with V. sororia and other species with unlobed leaf blades); [ne. US and s. ONT southward into the s. Appalachian Mountains and associated uplands, mostly absent from Lower Piedmont and se. Atlantic Coastal Plain, the s. limit in the Gulf States and Lower Midwest unclear]

............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Larger leaf blades deeply divided into (-) 5 or 7 lobes, lobes approximately equal in size and length, primary divisions separated by sinuses nearly or fully to petiole summit; [w. VA, or Piedmont, Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains, and Lower Midwest].

............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Uppermost lobes of lateral primary divisions (or longest axis of lateral primary divisions if not deeply cleft or divided) strongly ascending; foliage color in life gray- to medium green, lower surface of leaf blades not flushed with purple; [widespread at lower elevations of Piedmont and Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains in se. U.S, and Lower Midwest]

............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Uppermost lobes of lateral primary divisions widely divergent; foliage color in life blue-green, lower surface of leaf blades flushed with purple; [sporadic in Ridge and Valley province of the Appalachian Mountains in w. VA]

............ ............ ............ ..20 Foliage strictly or essentially glabrous; calyx eciliate; lowest sepals acute or acuminate; auricles short and not elongating in fruit, or prominent and elongating in fruit; cleistogamous capsule on erect or suberect peduncle (prostrate or arching upward in V. edulis "Gulf Coastal Plain" and V. egglestonii).

............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Largest leaf blades deeply biternately divided nearly to petiole summit into 7 or 9 lobes (biternately divided leaf blades occasionally produced by V. septemloba, which is keyed out in 21b), the terminal primary division narrowly lanceolate and not much broader than its lateral lobes or the lobes on the lateral primary divisions; lowest sepals oblong-lanceolate to ovate, obtuse to broadly rounded; auricles short and rounded, not elongating in fruit; spurred petal sparsely to densely bearded within; cleistogamous capsule unspotted, on prostrate to arching peduncle much shorter than petioles; seeds 2.2-2.7 × 1.5-1.7 mm, medium to dark brown, unspotted; [upland limestone cedar glades of Interior Highlands region, s. IN south to nw. GA and n. AL]

............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Largest leaf blades shallowly to deeply pedately divided into 3-7 (-9) lobes (biternately divided leaf blades occasionally produced by V. septemloba), the terminal primary division broadly oblong to ovate or rhombic-ovate, distinctly to much broader than any intermediary lobes between the terminal and lateral divisions; lowest sepals lanceolate to ovate-triangular, acuminate (oblong-lanceolate to ovate and obtuse to rounded in V. "Gulf Coastal Plain edulis"); auricles prominent, weakly to strongly elongating to 3 mm in fruit; spurred petal glabrous within (sparsely bearded in V. viarum, densely bearded in V. septemloba); cleistogamous capsules unspotted, on peduncles as long as or longer than the petioles (capsule heavily spotted or blotched, on prostrate or arching peduncle shorter than the petioles in V. "Gulf Coastal Plain edulis"); seeds dark bronze and unspotted, or brown with minute black spots or reticulations; [either pine savannas (V. septemloba) or bottomland sites along streams and rivers, Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plains and lower Midwest Missouri River drainage]

............ ............ ............ ............ ........29 Largest leaf blades moderately to deeply (3-) 5-7 (-9)-lobed, lobes elliptical, lobes divergent on blades with 5 or more lobes, lowest lobe downward-pointing; blade margins entire or subentire; spurred petal densely bearded; cleistogamous capsule unspotted, on tall erect peduncle surpassing some petioles; seeds (1.5-) 1.9-2.5 × 1.4-1.6 mm, brownish-black, unspotted; [dry to seasonally moist sand of frequently burned long-leaf pine savannas]

............ ............ ............ ............ ........29 Largest leaf blades shallowly to deeply 3- to 7-lobed, lobes linear or angulate, elliptical, ovate or rhombic-ovate, lobes ascending to spreading on blades with 5 or more lobes, lacking a distinct downward-pointing lobe; blade margins incurved-serrate; spurred petal glabrous within (sparsely bearded in V. viarum); cleistogamous capsule unspotted or finely to heavily spotted or blotched with red or purple, on ascending to erect peduncle surpassing some petioles or on prostrate peduncle much shorter than petioles; seeds various; [bottomland sites in diverse substrates along rivers and streams or swamps].

............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Leaves ascending to erect in life; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to lanceolate; spurred petal sparsely bearded within; cleistogamous capsule finely spotted with red or purple, on ascending to erect peduncle equaling or surpassing shorter petioles; [thin alluvial soils amid limestone gravel or rubble or cracks in limestone bedrock along streams and rivers, mainly in the n. Ozarks and Missouri River drainage of the central and lower Midwest]

............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Leaves widely spreading to erect in life; lowest sepals oblong to ovate-triangular; spurred petal glabrous; cleistogamous capsule unspotted or spotted, on ascending to erect peduncle equaling or surpassing petioles or on prostrate peduncle much shorter than petioles; [sandy or silty soils of floodplains, swamps and hammocks on the Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain].

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Petioles and leaves widely spreading in life; leaf blades during chasmogamous flower with any intermediary lobes between terminal and primary divisions very short, ≤ 1/4 length of the midrib; most deeply divided leaf blades with 3-5 lobes; sepals > 2/5 length of the dehisced capsule; auricles moderately elongating to 3 mm; cleistogamous capsule unspotted, on erect peduncle; seeds brown with minute raised black spots or reticulations; [Atlantic Coastal Plain, s. MD south to se. GA]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Petioles and leaves ascending in life; leaf blades during chasmogamous flower with any intermediary lobes between terminal and primary divisions mostly elongate ≥ 1/4 length of the midrib; most deeply divided leaf blades with 5-7 lobes; sepals ≤ 2/5 length of the dehisced capsule; auricles not or only weakly elongating to 1-1.5(2) mm; cleistogamous capsule finely to heavily spotted or blotched, on ascending peduncle equaling or surpassing shorter petioles or prostrate and much shorter than peduncles; seeds dark bronze and unspotted, or light brown with brown streaks or blotches; [FL and Gulf Coastal Plain].

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Auricles weakly elongating in fruit to 1.5-3 mm; cleistogamous capsule finely spotted with reddish-purple, on strongly ascending to erect peduncle equaling or surpassing shorter petioles; seeds 1.4-1.8 × 1.0-1.2 mm, dark bronze, unspotted; [known only from type area, Jacksonville, FL]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Auricles not elongating in fruit, ca. 1 mm; cleistogamous capsule heavily purple-spotted or -blotched, on short initially prostrate peduncle much shorter than petioles and arching upward just prior to dehiscence; seeds 1.7-2.4 × 1.3-1.7 mm, light brown with prominent brown streaks or blotches; [FL and Gulf Coastal Plain]

1 At least some petioles prominently winged; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate (ovate-triangular, acute to obtuse in V. villosa); auricles prominent, elongating in fruit, erose; cleistogamous capsule unspotted, on declined or erect peduncle

..2 Petioles, lower surface of leaf blades and peduncles moderately to densely hirtellous (rarely glabrous in V. fimbriatula); at least the outer leaves widely spreading or prostrate on the substrate in life; largest leaf blades elliptical or narrowly oblong-ovate in outline; peduncle hirtellous; calyx ciliate; corolla purple, petals broadly rounded, spurred petal not medially compressed; peduncle of cleistogamous capsule declined; seeds 1.4-1.9 × 0.9-1.3 mm, medium to dark brown or gray-brown, unspotted or with small weak darker blotches.

....3 Upper surface of leaf blades concolorous; larger leaf blades all distinctly longer than broad, elliptical or oblong to oblong-ovate (rarely lanceolate), base shallowly cordate or truncate to cuneate, apex acute; petioles shorter than leaf blades (chasmogamous flower) to 2 × as long as blades (cleistogamous fruit); lowest sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate; upper and lateral petals of chasmogamous flower ≥ 3 mm wide; sepals of cleistogamous fruit ≥ 1/2 as long as capsule; seeds (1.3-) avg. 1.6 (-1.8) × (0.9-) avg. 1.1 (-1.3) mm, medium to dark brown or gray-brown with small weak or prominent darker spots, streaks or blotches

....3 Upper surface of leaf blades commonly bicolorous, with conspicuous darker green or purple veins; at least some larger leaf blades usually scarcely longer than broad to broader than long, narrowly ovate or orbicular to reniform (rarely elliptical), base deeply cordate, apex obtuse to narrowly or broadly rounded; petioles variable, sometimes shorter than leaf blades and sometimes > 2 × as long as blades; lowest sepals lanceolate to ovate-triangular, acute to obtuse or rounded (uncommonly acuminate); upper and lateral petals of chasmogamous flower < 3 mm wide; sepals of cleistogamous fruit < 1/2 as long as capsule; seeds (1.6-) avg. 1.9 (-2.2) × (1.0-) avg. 1.3 (-1.5) mm, brown with minute raised black spots or dark red-brown to black and unspotted

..2 Foliage glabrous or surfaces of leaf blades sparsely appressed-hirsute near margins; leaves erect in life; petioles > 2 × as long as leaf blades; largest leaf blades narrowly ovate-triangular, triangular or deltate-triangular; peduncle glabrous; calyx eciliate; corolla violet, petals commonly emarginate, spurred petal commonly medially compressed; peduncle of cleistogamous capsule erect; seeds 1.4-2.2 × 0.9-1.5 mm, pinkish-gray to dark gray with prominent darker streaks and spots

......4 Petals commonly emarginate; spurred petal commonly medially compressed; [dry sandy soils of open dry woodlands and forest edges on the Piedmont and Atlantic Coastal Plain]

......4 Petals broadly rounded; spurred petal not medially compressed; [dry or wet soils west of the Appalachians].

........5 Outline of largest leaf blades convexly tapering to (broadly) rounded apex; [low wet prairies, s. MO and e. KS south to se. OK]

........5 Outline of largest leaf blades concavely tapering to narrowly acuminate or narrowly rounded apex; [open dry oak and oak-pine woodlands and forest edges, WV & s. OH south to n. AL, LA, and n. AR]

1 Petioles not prominently winged; lowest sepals lanceolate to (more commonly) ovate-lanceolate, oblong or ovate, acuminate to rounded; auricles inconspicuous and remaining short and rounded, or prominent and elongating in fruit and often erose; cleistogamous capsule unspotted or spotted, on prostrate, declined or erect peduncle.

..........6 All petals glabrous within (lateral petals densely bearded within in V. inconspicua); spur > 2× as long as thick, cylindrical or club-shaped; stipules at least half-adnate to petioles.

............ 7 Leaf blades narrowly ovate-triangular to deltate-triangular, broadly cordate with divergent basal lobes with non-overlapping or divergent lobes, the blade margins above the basal lobes straightish to concave; spur 1-3 mm long; upper surface of blades glabrous; lateral petals densely bearded within; [exotic, usually in human-maintained habitats]

............ 7 Leaf blades narrowly ovate to ovate, deeply cordate with inner edges of basal lobes commonly overlapping in life, the blade margins above the basal lobes convex; spur 4-7 mm long; upper surface of blades with scattered subappressed hairs; lateral petals glabrous within; [circumboreal, NL to AK, south to RI, PA, WI, n. MN and n. WA, disjunct in SD and CO; Greenland, Eurasia]

..........6 Lateral petals bearded within, spurred petal in some species bearded; spur < 1.5× as long as thick, rounded; leaf blades variously shaped, inner edges of basal lobes not overlapping in life; stipules free.

............ ..8 Leaves spreading to prostrate on the substrate in life; upper leaf blade surface silvery- or gray-green with contrasting dark green or red-purple veins, lower blade surface purple-tinged; foliage glabrous except for conspicuous stiff ascending or spreading hairs uniformly distributed over upper surface of leaf blade; calyx eciliate; lowest sepals oblong to ovate, obtuse to rounded; spurred pet densely bearded; cleistogamous capsule purple-spotted, on initially prostrate peduncle shorter than petioles; seeds 1.5-2.1 × 1.1-1.4 mm, light brown, commonly with slightly darker streaks and spots

............ ..8 Leaves held above the substrate (prostrate in V. villosa, at least outer leaves prostrate especially in fruit in V. fimbriatula); upper surface of leaf blades uniformly green, lower green or purple tinged; foliage glabrous or variously pubescent, if hairs confined to upper surface of leaf blade, then these very small, scattered and (sub)appressed.

............ ....9 Margins of largest leaf blades closely pectinately serrate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely appressed-hirtellous; chasmogamous flowers held above the leaves; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate; auricles prominent, elongating to 3 mm in fruit; [sporadic along Atlantic Coastal Plain]

............ ....9 Margins of largest leaf blades merely crenate to serrate, various in indument; chasmogamous flowers held above or among the leaves; lowest sepals and auricles various; [most species absent from or rare on the Atlantic Coastal Plain].

............ ......10 Plant in chasmogamous flower.

............ ........11 Largest leaf blades approx. as broad as long to broader than long (length:width ratio < 1.2), broadly ovate or orbicular to deltate or reniform (one largest leaf blade often longer than broad in V. floridana, V. latiuscula, V. septentrionalis, these are keyed here).

............ ..........12 Spurred petal densely bearded within; lower surface of leaf blades commonly purple-tinged (blades uniformly green in V. retusa).

............ ............ 13 Foliage and peduncles sparsely to densely hirsute, leaf blade margins ciliate, hairs often long; calyx glabrous or appressed-hirtellous, ciliate to apex; auricles prominent, quadrate

............ ............ 13 Foliage strictly glabrous or upper surface of leaf blades with small scattered subappressed hairs, blade margins eciliate; peduncle glabrous; calyx glabrous, eciliate; auricles short and rounded.

............ ............ ..14 Leaf blades orbicular to reniform, broadly obtuse to rounded at apex; lowest sepals oblong to ovate, obtuse to rounded; [dry or wet calcareous open sites throughout ne. N America, Great Plains and Rocky Mtns., sporadic southward along Appalachian Mtns. to w. VA]

............ ............ ..14 Leaf blades deltate-triangular, acute to short-acuminate at apex; lowest sepals acuminate to acutish.

............ ............ ....15 Petals broadly obovate, broadly rounded; lowest sepals oblong-lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, acute or acutish; lower surface of leaf blades commonly flushed with purple; summit of petioles commonly papillate or granular; [dry sandy woodland soils in NY, PA, VT]

............ ............ ....15 Petals narrowly obovate, upper commonly retuse; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate, acuminate; leaves uniformly green; petioles smooth; [gravelly riverbanks in the Great Plains]

............ ..........12 Spurred petal glabrous within; foliage green (foliage blue-green, petioles, lower surface of leaf blades and peduncles purple-tinged, leaf blades ovate to orbicular in V. sororia var. 2 [“hirsutula-like” variant]).

............ ............ ......16 Lowest sepals oblong to ovate, obtuse to rounded; auricles not prominent, short and rounded or truncate.

............ ............ ........17 Foliage (at least the petioles and lower surface of leaf blades) hirsute; calyx ciliate

............ ............ ........17 Foliage strictly or essentially glabrous; calyx eciliate.

............ ............ ..........18 Foliage, peduncles and calyx uniformly medium green; apex of leaf blades obtuse or abruptly acutish; margins incurved-serrate; sepals oblong to narrowly ovate (uncommonly broadly so), obtuse to rounded at apex; [widely distributed]

............ ............ ..........18 Foliage, peduncles and calyx blue-green, midrib of upper leaf blade surface purple, lower surface of leaf blades, petioles, peduncles and calyx flushed with purple; apex of leaf blades broadly rounded; margins shallowly crenate; sepals ovate, broadly rounded at apex; [Appalachian highlands and Western Allegheny Plateau]

............ ............ ......16 Lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to ovate-triangular, acuminate; auricles prominent, narrowly linear to trapezoidal.

............ ............ ............ 19 Corolla violet with contrasting dark purple eyespot around throat; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate; lateral petal beards very short, exposing throat in life, hairs strongly clavate to reniform

............ ............ ............ 19 Corolla violet to deep purple without contrasting eyespot (white with contrasting purple-gray eyespot around throat in V. communis ['V. priceana']; lowest sepals lance- to ovate-triangular; lateral petal beards long, obscuring throat in life, hairs filiform or slightly clavate.

............ ............ ............ ..20 Corolla purple (white with contrasting purple-gray eyespot around throat in V. communis f. priceana, ined.); petioles ascending in life; leaf blades suborbicular or ovate-deltate, broadly rounded to obtuse at apex, deep green, glossy above; foliage strictly glabrous or upper leaf blade surface with scattered minute appressed hairs requiring magnification; auricles weakly prominent, trapezoidal, commonly erose, 1.5-2 mm; [widespread in floodplains, upland/lowland transitions, thickets, lawns and suburban woodlots, mostly absent from the Coastal Plain]

............ ............ ............ ..20 Corolla whitish (with prominent dark violet near throat on lateral and spurred petals in V. floridana [“peninsular Florida” variant]), pale violet or rose-violet; petioles ascending to widely spreading in life; leaf blades ovate to broadly so, obtuse to subacute at apex, medium to dark green, not glossy above; marginal dentition incurved-serrate; upper surface of leaf blades with easily visible scattered appressed hairs; auricles short and rounded or truncate, < 1 mm; silty; [lowland stream and river terraces and hammocks, FL and Gulf Coastal Plain].

............ ............ ............ ....21 Petioles ascending; flowers held among or slightly overtopping leaves; corolla rose-violet; [local along w. Gulf Coast in LA, MS]

............ ............ ............ ....21 Petioles and leaf blades widely spreading; flowers greatly overtopping leaves; corolla whitish to violet; [e. Gulf Coast region in FL, s. AL and s. GA].

............ ............ ............ ......22 All petals pale violet distally and white in proximal half near throat, spurred petal with a few slender well separated purple nectar-guide-lines on proximal half near throat; lateral petals obovate and broadly rounded, spurred petal broadly obovate and broadly rounded to subtruncate at apex; [throughout range of complex]

............ ............ ............ ......22 Upper and lateral petals whitish distally with conspicuous darker violet flush near throat, spurred petal whitish distally with broad prominent darker violet flush and dense heavily coalescing purple nectar-guides on proximal half near throat; spurred petal obovate or rhombic-obovate and angulate-rounded or trilobate at apex; [central peninsular Florida]

............ ........11 Largest leaf blades distinctly longer than broad (length:width ratio > 1.2).

............ ............ ............ ........23 Spurred petal densely bearded within; foliage glabrous or sparsely to moderately hirtellous [naturally occurring in open sites]

............ ............ ............ ..........24 Largest leaf blades narrowly ovate- to deltate-triangular; foliage glabrous or upper surface of leaf blades bearing scattered small subappressed hairs; flowers held among the leaves; auricles short and rounded.

............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Largest leaf blades narrowly ovate-triangular; upper surface of leaf blades bearing scattered small subappressed hairs; upper petals broadly rounded; [sandy and silty soils of floodplains and swamps, absent from the Great Plains region]

............ ............ ............ ............ 25 Largest leaf blades deltate-triangular or an occasional leaf narrowly ovate-triangular; leaves strictly glabrous; upper petals frequently retuse; [gravelly riverbanks in the Great Plains region, KS, OK, and TX westward and northward]

............ ............ ............ ........23 Spurred petal glabrous within; foliage strictly glabrous or upper surface of leaf blades with small to minute scattered subappressed hairs; [naturally occurring in forested sites, V. cucullata also in marshes and meadows].

............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Calyx ciliolate; lowest sepals oblong to ovate-lanceolate, obtuse to rounded; auricles short and rounded

............ ............ ............ ............ ..26 Calyx eciliate; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to ovate-triangular, acuminate; auricles prominent to elongate.

............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Corolla violet with contrasting dark purple "eyespot" around throat; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate; lateral petal beards very short, with strongly clavate to reniform hairs; [widely distributed over e. North America, infrequent on Atlantic Coastal Plain]

............ ............ ............ ............ ....27 Corolla violet lacking contrasting "eyespot" around throat but with flush of dark purple at base of lateral pet; lowest sepals lance- to ovate-triangular; lateral petal beards long, with slightly clavate hairs.

............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Petioles and leaves widely spreading; auricles prominent but scarcely elongate, < 1.5 mm long; [Gulf Coastal Plain, e. TX to w. FL panhandle]

............ ............ ............ ............ ......28 Petioles ascending; auricles prominent, elongate, 1.5-4 mm long; [s. Atlantic Coastal Plain, se. VA to se. GA]

............ ......10 Plant in cleistogamous fruit.

............ ............ ............ ............ ........29 Largest leaf blades about as long as broad to broader than long (length:width ratio < 1.2), ovate or deltate-triangular to reniform.

............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Foliage (at least petioles and/or lower surface of leaf blades) hirsute; calyx ciliate.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Margins of leaf blades ciliate with spreading hairs (hairs long in Appalachian populations); sepals ciliate to apex (cilia long in Appalachian populations); auricles prominent, elongate to 2 mm; seeds 1.2-2.3 × 0.8-1.2 mm, brown to dark brown, unspotted (rarely with small weak darker spots); [inhabiting limestone and dolomite-associated soils in boreal region and s. at higher elevations to s. Appalachian Mtns]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 31 Margins of leaf blades ciliate with short ascending hairs; sepals ciliate in basal ½ (2/3) with short hairs; auricles short and rounded; seeds 1.5-2.6 × 1.0-1.6 mm, dark gray to grayish-brown with faint to prominent rectangular darker blotches; [inhabiting various substrates in upland and lowland forests in much of e. N America]

............ ............ ............ ............ ..........30 Foliage strictly glabrous or upper surface of leaf blades with small to minute scattered subappressed hairs.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Capsule unspotted.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....33 Peduncle declined.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......34 Petioles and leaves widely spreading; leaf blades deltate-triangular, broadly acute or right-angled at apex; lowest sepals lanceolate, acuminate; auricles prominent, elongating to 2 mm; seeds yellow-brown; [silt or sand in floodplains of streams and rivers in Gulf Coast region and w. panhandle of FL]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......34 Petioles ascending; leaf blades reniform, broadly obtuse to rounded at apex; lowest sepals oblong to ovate, obtuse to rounded; auricles short and rounded; seeds dark brown; [in dry or wet calcareous substrates of open sites in northeastern states and sporadic along Appalachian highlands, widely distributed across the Cordillera]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....33 Peduncle erect, or initially prostrate and coiled then elongating to become sinuous-erect.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........35 Largest leaf blades suborbicular to deltate-reniform, apex broadly obtuse to rounded, upper surface glossy in life; peduncle initially prostrate and coiled but eventually becoming sinuous-erect; lowest sepals ovate-triangular, < ½ as long as capsule; auricles weakly elongate to 2 mm; seeds olive-brown or brownish-black to black, often with minute raised black spots; [in moist clay or loam soils of thickets, grassy banks and meadows, slope-floodplain transitions and lawns]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........35 Largest leaf blades ovate, apex acute, upper surface not glossy in life; peduncle erect; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to lanceolate, > ½ as long as the capsule; auricles weakly or strongly elongate; seeds medium to dark brown or reddish-brown, unspotted or spotted; [intermittently or permanently wet soils of wetlands, swamps and riverbanks].

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........36 Auricles strongly elongate, 3-8 mm; seeds 1.4-1.9 × 0.8-1.3 mm, dark brown to dark reddish-brown, unspotted; [inhabiting open or forested wet sites including marshes, sedge meadows, seeps, bog forests and swamps throughout most of e. N Am. e. of the Great Plains]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........36 Auricles weakly elongate to 1.5 mm; seeds 1.7-2.2 × 1.0-1.3 mm, medium brown with minute raised black spots; [gravel riverbanks in the Great Plains]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..32 Capsule finely spotted, or heavily purple-spotted or blotched.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 37 Lowest sepals oblong- to ovate-lanceolate or ovate, obtuse to rounded at apex.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..38 Calyx ciliolate; seeds 1.5-2.2 × 1.0-1.3 mm, medium orange-brown, unspotted or often with minute dark brown to blackish spots; [sandy soils of bottomland forests, w. Midwest, Great Plains and Lower Midwest]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..38 Calyx eciliate; seeds 1.5-2.6 × 1.0-1.6 mm, light gray to medium grayish-brown with weak to dark rectangular blotches; [inhabiting various substrates in upland and lowland forests in much of e. North America].

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....39 Foliage, peduncles and calyx uniformly medium green, often turning yellow green in cleistogamous fruit; apex of leaf blades obtuse or abruptly acutish; margins incurved-serrate; sepals oblong to narrowly ovate (uncommonly broadly so), obtuse to rounded at apex; [widely distributed across e. N America to e. Great Plains]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....39 Foliage, peduncles and calyx blue-green, midrib of upper leaf blade surface often purple, lower surface of leaf blades, petioles, peduncles and calyx flushed with purple; apex of leaf blades broadly rounded; margins shallowly crenate; sepals ovate, broadly rounded at apex; [Appalachian highlands and Western Allegheny Plateau]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 37 Lowest sepals linear-lanceolate to ovate-triangular, acuminate from middle or base (narrowly rounded to acute in V. latiuscula).

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......40 Peduncle declined, or initially prostrate and coiled but becoming erect-sinuous; auricles prominent, weakly to strongly elongate, 1.5-4 mm; seeds olive-brown or brownish-black to black, unspotted or with minute black spots.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........41 Largest leaf blades broadly obtuse to rounded at apex, upper surface glossy in life; peduncle stout, initially prostrate and coiled, elongating to become erect-sinuous prior to dehiscence; calyx green; auricles triangular-trapezoidal, weakly elongate to 1.5(2) mm; capsule finely spotted to heavily blotched with dark purple; seeds 1.5-2.5 × 0.9-1.5 mm, olive-brown, brownish-black to black, often with minute raised spots; [in moist soils of thickets, grassy banks and meadows, forest edges, and lawns across much of e. N. Am. e. of the Great Plains, rare on the Atlantic Coastal Plain]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ........41 Largest leaf blades (abruptly) acute at apex, upper surface not glossy in life; peduncle slender, declined or ascending from the beginning, gently curved; calyx purple-pigmented (rarely green); auricles narrowly linear, strongly elongate, (1.5)2-4 mm; capsule finely purple-spotted at least at base; seeds 1.3-1.8 × 0.9-1.2 mm, dark brown with white raphe, unspotted; [in frequently flooded sandy soils along streams and rivers on the s. Atlantic Coastal Plain]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ......40 Peduncle initially prostrate, arching upward prior to capsule dehiscence; auricles short and rounded or truncate; seeds yellow- to orange-brown or purple-black and unspotted, or light red-brown with dark brown or red-brown blotches.

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........42 Largest leaf blades ovate-triangular, deltate-triangular or deltate-reniform, shallowly cordate to subcordate at base, abruptly acute to right-angled at apex; seeds 1.4-2.0 mm long, yellow- to orange-brown or purple-black, unspotted; [absent on the Gulf Coastal Plain].

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 43 Largest leaf blades approx. as broad as long, ovate- to deltate-triangular, 37-69 mm wide, broadly acute at apex, shallowly to moderately cordate at base; petioles smooth throughout; lowest sepals linear-lanceolate or lanceolate, acuminate, > 1/2 as long as mature or dehisced cleistogamous capsule; cleistogamous capsules frequently hirtellous; seeds 1.4-2.0 mm, light to medium yellow- or orange-brown (rarely red-brown) [moist to wet soils of swamps, floodplains and riverside meadows over much of e. N. Am. e. of the Great Plains, mostly absent from the c. and s. Atlantic Coastal Plain, not reaching Gulf Coastal Plain]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ 43 Largest leaf blades much broader than long, broadly deltate-reniform, 34-145 mm wide, abruptly obtuse to acute at apex, truncate to subcordate at base; summit of petioles granular or papillate-puberulent; lowest sepals broadly acute, mostly < 1/2 as long as mature or dehisced cleistogamous capsule; cleistogamous capsules glabrous; seeds purple-black; [dry sandy soils in upland forests of NY, PA, VT]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..........42 Largest leaf blades ovate to suborbicular, deeply cordate at base, broadly obtuse to rounded at apex; seeds 1.7-2.3 mm long, light red-brown with prominent dark brown or red-brown streaks or blotches; [Gulf Coastal Plain].

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..44 Petioles ascending; seeds narrowly obovoid; [w. Gulf Coast region in LA, MS]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ..44 Petioles and leaf blades widely spreading; seeds broadly obovoid; [e. Gulf Coast region in FL, s. AL and s. GA].

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....45 [n. FL, s. AL, and peninsular FL]

............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ............ ....45 [peninsular FL]