Wild violet

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Wild violet

Wild violet

Wild violet

Wild violet

Wild violet

Wild violet

Wild violet

Wild violet

Morphology

Stem

Stemless.

Leaves

Highly variable, entire, glabrous, egg-shaped to triangular-heart-shaped or sometimes nearly circular or kidney-shaped, 3/5 to 2.8 inches wide; base usually heart-shaped; tip tapering or rounded to blunt or pointed; margins entire to shallow-toothed; stalks 2 to 8 inches long.

Inflorescence

Solitary flowers on flowering stalks first much longer than leaves, later over-topped by leaves.

Flower

Showy, blue to dark violet to nearly white, white to greenish-yellow at base; sepals 5, lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate; petals 5, 1/3 to 4/5 inch long, lower 3 petals with dark purple veins, lateral 2 petals bearded, others beaded or glabrous; stamens 5, not erect; inconspicuous, non-opening, self-pollinating flowers also occur on erect or ascending flower stalks.

Fruit

Capsules, 1/3 to 1/2 inch long, glabrous, greenish-yellow or brown; seeds numerous, tan to dark brown or purplish.

Ecology

Habitat

Moist fields, open woods, stream valleys, prairie hillsides, roadsides, and waste areas.

Distribution

Throughout Kansas.

Practical Information

Uses

Early settlers made a jelly from the flowers as well as a tea to treat headaches and sore throats.

Additional Notes

Synonyms

Alternative scientific names that have been used for this plant.