E-Flora BC: Electronic Atlas of the Flora of British Columbia

Viola palustris L. var. palustris
marsh violet
Violaceae (Violet family)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

© Jim Riley  Email the photographer   (Photo ID #15443)

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Distribution of Viola palustris var. palustris
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Species Information

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General:
Perennial herb from a rhizome, with stolons, plants 5-20 cm tall; stems lacking.
Leaves:
Basal leaves round to heart- or kidney-shaped, the blades 2-7 cm long, 2.5-3.5 cm wide, round-toothed, smooth, the stalks up to 15 cm long; stem leaves lacking; stipules lanceolate, entire.
Flowers:
Inflorescence of single, axillary flowers; petals 5, white to lavender, the lower petal 10-13 mm long including the 2-to 4-mm long pouched spur, the lower 3 purple-pencilled and more or less tinged with lilac, the lateral pair sparsely or not bearded; sepals 5, lanceolate, with earlike lobes at the base; style heads smooth.
Fruits:
Capsules, smooth, 6-7 mm long; dark brown.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Habitat / Range

Moist to wet streambanks, meadows, swamps, fens and woodlands from the lowland to subalpine zones; common throughout BC except the extreme NE; N to NT, E to NF and S to ME, NY, SD, WY, UT, NV and CA.

Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Climate

The climate type for this species, as reported in the: "British Columbia plant species codes and selected attributes. Version 6 Database" (Meidinger et al. 2008), is not evaluated, unknown or variable.

Taxonomic and Nomenclatural Links

Additional Photo Sources

General References