kingdom Plantae - plants »  divisio Magnoliophyta - flowering plants »  class Rosopsida - eudicots » order Malpighiales »  family Violaceae »  tribus Violeae > genus Viola > Viola sect. Viola  L. > Viola subsect. Rostratae Kupffer    

Viola howellii Gray - Howell's Violet

| Bio Lib | GRIN |CalPhotos | Botanikim | eFlora North America    

Common name: Howell’s violet, violette de Howell Howell’s violet, violette de Howell 

Description:  Plants perennial, caulescent, not stoloniferous, 2–44 cm. Stems 1–4, ascending to erect (sometimes later reclining to nearly prostrate), glabrous or sparsely pubescent, on caudex from subligneous rhizome. Leaves basal and cauline; basal: 1–6; stipules linear-lanceolate to oblong, margins mostly entire or laciniate with gland-tipped projections, apex acute to acuminate; petiole 4–15 cm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent; blade ovate to reniform, 1.9–6.8 × 2.1–6.4 cm, thin, base cordate, margins crenate, ciliate, apex acute to usually obtuse, surfaces glabrous or sparsely puberulent; cauline similar to basal except: stipules linear-lanceolate or deltate to oblong, apex acute or long-acuminate; petiole 1–4.5 cm; blade 2–5.1 × 1.2–5.8 cm. Peduncles 2.8–17.8 cm, glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Flowers: sepals lanceolate, margins ciliate or eciliate, auricles 1–2 mm; petals violet to soft blue-violet on both surfaces, whitish basally, lower 3 dark violet-veined, lateral 2 densely bearded, lowest 14–23 mm, spur blue-violet to whitish, gibbous to elongated, 2.4–5 mm, usually less than 1/2 lowest petal, tip straight; style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers axillary. Capsulesellipsoid, 7–11 mm, glabrous. Seeds light brown, 2.1–2.8 mm. 2n = 40, 80. 

Distributional Range:  Native Northern America WESTERN CANADA: Canada [British Columbia (s.w.)] NORTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [Oregon, Washington] SOUTHWESTERN U.S.A.: United States [California]

Habitat: Moist, shady areas, coniferous forests, prairies, along streams; 50–1500 m 

References:

1. Hitchcock, C. L. et al. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest.

2. Holmgren, N. H. 1992. Two new species of Viola (Violaceae from the intermountain west, USA. Brittonia 44:304.

3. Scoggan, H. J. 1978-1979. The flora of Canada, 4 vol.