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Nuttall's yellow violet

Also known as: yellow prairie violet

Viola nuttallii Pursh

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Nuttall's yellow violet habit
Nuttall's yellow violet
Nuttall's yellow violet flowers
Nuttall's yellow violet
Nuttall's yellow violet

Morphology

Stem
Ascending to erect, glabrous or puberulent.
Leaves
Basal and cauline, alternate; stipules lanceolate to oblong or elliptic, .12 to .6 inch, margins entire to serrate distally; petiole to 2.4 inches, sparsely to densely puberulent; blade lanceolate to ovate or elliptic, 3.5-4.5 times as long as wide, .8 to 2.4 inches long, .2 to 1 inch wide, base cuneate to attenuate, margins entire to sinuate or remotely crenate-dentate, apex acute, surfaces sparsely to densely puberulent.
Inflorescence
Basal or axillary, flowers solitary; peduncles reflexed apically; bracts 2, medial.
Flower
Chasmogamous flowers .4 to .6 inch; sepals 5, distinct, lanceolate, .16 to .28 inch, margins glabrous or ciliolate proximally, apex acute; petals 5, distinct, yellow, unequal, abaxial 3 usually with purple veins, lateral 2 bearded, spurred one broadly oblanceolate, beardless; stamens 5, included in corolla throat; filaments distinct; style slender; pistil 1; style 1. Cleistogamous flowers on short peduncles in distal axils.
Fruit
Capsules, tan, .24 to .35 inch, glabrous or puberulent. Seeds brown, .11 to .12 inch.

Ecology

Habitat
Rocky, calcareous, mixed-grass and shortgrass prairies.
Distribution
West half of Kansas

Additional Notes

Comments

Viola, classical name for violet, and nuttallii, for botanist and naturalist Thomas Nuttall.

Quick Facts
Plant Type
Wildflower
Family
Violaceae – Violet Family
Life Span
Perennial
Height
.8-4.8(-8) inches
Origin
Native
Last Updated
2021-10-03
Color Groups
Yellow Wildflowers
Flowering Period
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Blooms: April, May