JANAS 33(1), Kearney and Peebles 1969
Duration: Annual Nativity: Native Lifeform: Forb/Herb General: Perennial, low-growing herb, to 30 cm tall, stems branching, with lyrate-pinnatifid stipules nearly as long as the leaf blades, herbage pubescent, arising in clusters from branching rhizomes. Leaves: Round-ovate, simple, basal, and cauline, with crenate margins, tip obtuse, base cordate to truncate, leaves to 4 cm long, borne on petioles to 7 cm long. Flowers: Pale blue to white, the lower 3 with conspicuous longitudinal purple veins, white a tuft of white hairs at the base of the petals, with the bottom petal bearing an elongated spur, flowers axillary or borne on pedicels to 10 cm long. Fruits: Glabrous fruits to 11 mm long. Seeds ovoid, many, with a prominent caruncle. Ecology: Found from 4,000 ft and below (1219 m). Notes: Look for this species under Viola rafinesquii. May be introduced. Look to the remarkable lyrate stipules as a good identifier for this species. Synonyms: Viola rafinesquii, V. kitaibeliana var. rafinesquii Editor: LCrumbacher, 2011