Viola orbiculata Geyer ex Holz.
round-leaved violet (darkwoods violet; evergreen yellow violet)
Violaceae (Violet family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Virginia Skilton     (Photo ID #2889)


Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Viola orbiculata
Click here to view the full interactive map and legend

Species Information

General:
Perennial from a scaly rhizome, without stolons; stems erect, smooth, 3-5 cm tall.
Leaves:
Basal leaves evergreen (or at least some of them), round, bases deeply heart-shaped, toothed, smooth, the blades 1.5-4 cm long, 2-4 cm wide, the stalks up to 5 cm long; stem leaves similar, reduced; stipules lanceolate, entire.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of single, axillary flowers; petals 5, yellow, the lower petal 0.5-1.5 cm long including the 1- to 2-mm long spur, the lower 3 purplish-pencilled, the lateral pair yellow-bearded; sepals 5, lanceolate; style heads short-bearded.
Fruits:
Capsules, smooth; seeds brown.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Viola orbiculata

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max

Elevation (metres)
1306 5 2500
Slope Gradient (%)
26 0 235

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

199 0 360
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric]
3 0 8
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
C
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
3688
Modal BEC Zone Class
ESSF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

AT(14), BWBS(21), CDF(1), CMA(3), CWH(249), ESSF(1392), ICH(1126), IDF(72), MH(20), MS(337), SBPS(11), SBS(248)

Habitat and Range

Mesic to moist meadows and forests the montane to alpine zones; frequent in BC south of 56degreeN, absent in the Queen Charlotte Islands; E to AB, and S to WY, ID and OR.

SourceThe Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Synonyms

Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Viola sempervirens var. orbiculata (Geyer ex Holz.) J.K. Henry
Viola sempervirens var. orbiculoides M.S. Baker