Viola hastata Michaux. Section: Chamaemelanium. Common name: Spearleaf Violet, Silverleaf Violet, Halberd-leaf Violet, Halberd-leaved Yellow Violet. Phenology: Chasmogamous flower Mar-May; chasmogamous fruit May-Jun; cleistogamous fruit Jun-Aug. Habitat: Acidic coves, dry-mesic oak forests, bluff forests, bases of rock ledges. Distribution: C. and w. PA and ne. OH south to c. GA, Panhandle FL, sc. AL, and se. MS.
ID notes: This caulescent species is unique in its long hastate leaf blades, which are often bicolorous (‘‘variegated’’) on the upper surface with the gray- or silvery-green lamina separating the darker green veins. With its solitary stem, few or no basal leaves, and long leaf blades, this species could only be mistaken for V. glaberrima, but differs from that in the hastate leaf blades with short but deeply cordate base, and the frequently ‘‘variegated’’ upper surface. The variegated leaf blades are an unusual feature shared with V. hirsutula and V. villosa in subsect. Borealiamericanae, and V. walteri in subsect. Rostratae.
Origin/Endemic status: Native
Synonymy ⓘ: = C, F, FNA6, G, K4, NS, Pa, POWO, RAB, S, S13, Tn, Va, W, WV, Ballard () (in prep), Ballard, Kartesz, & Nishino (2023), McKinney & Russell (2002); = n/a — Fl2. Basionym: Viola hastata Michx. 1803
Links to other floras: = Viola hastata - FNA6
Show parent genus | Show parent in key(s)
Wetland Indicator Status:
- Atlantic and Gulf Coastal Plain: FACU
- Eastern Mountains and Piedmont: UPL
- Midwest: UPL
- Northcentral & Northeast: UPL
Heliophily ⓘ: 3
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© Alan Cressler: viola hastata, east palisades, chattahoochee river national recreation area, fulton county, georgia 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Armin Weise CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Will Stuart | Original Image ⭷
© Alan Cressler: viola hastata, big creek, big frog wilderness, cherokee national forest, polk county, tennessee 1 by Alan Cressler source | Original Image ⭷
© Richard & Teresa Ware CC-BY-NC, permission granted to NCBG | Original Image ⭷
© Armin Weise CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Bruce Sorrie | Original Image ⭷
© Gary P. Fleming | Original Image ⭷
© Armin Weise CC-BY | Original Image ⭷
© Edwin Bridges | Original Image ⭷Feedback
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Horticultural Information
Intro: Erect perennial of acidic coves, dry-to-moist oak forests and bluff forests.
Stems: Stems unbranched and smooth.
Leaves: Leaves alternate, on petioles with variably shaped stipules at base, triangular with a long tip and flared at the base, 2-4 in. long, often with silvery blotches between the veins, smooth.
Inforescence:
Flowers: Flowers solitary on slender stalks, bright yellow with purple veins and purple-tinged on the back, about 1/2 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals.
Fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
Comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
Height: 3-12 in.
plant sale text:
bloom table text:
description: Erect perennial of acidic coves, dry-to-moist oak forests and bluff forests.
stems: Stems unbranched and smooth.
leaves: Leaves alternate, on petioles with variably shaped stipules at base, triangular with a long tip and flared at the base, 2-4 in. long, often with silvery blotches between the veins, smooth.
inflorescence:
flowers: Flowers solitary on slender stalks, bright yellow with purple veins and purple-tinged on the back, about 1/2 in. wide, bilaterally symmetric, with 5 unequal petals.
fruits: Fruit an ellipsoid capsule.
comments: Closed, self-pollinating flowers are present in this Viola species.
cultural notes:
germination code:
native range:
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