Viola sororia Willd.

Locations ofViola sororia Willd. in Virginia

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Detail

Family
Violaceae
Botanical Name
Viola sororia Willd.
Common Name
Common Blue Violet
Synonym(s)
Viola papilionacea Pursh
Flora of Virginia Name/Status
Viola sororia Willd.
Comments
Viola sororia aparently hybridizes with several other species to produce a confusing array of morphologies. As used here, the name is restricted to homophyllus plants with moderately pubescent, wide leaves. In their recent monograph on violets of the northeastern U.S., Ballard et al. (2023; Jour. Torrey Bot. Soc. 150(1): 3-266) discuss several morphological "variants," but these have not been formally named and are not treated here. See also Comments under Viola communis and Viola septentrionalis.
Habitat
In an extremely wide range of forested to open, natural to ruderal habitats. Its natural habitats include swamp hummocks, floodplain forests, and varied mesic to dry upland forests. It can also be abundantly weedy in lawns, fields, pastures, and many other disturbed habitats. Apparently common throughout, but the status of this species needs re-assessment now that Viola communis Pollard has been split out of the former concept. Some of the records on the map likely represent V. communis, which also appears to be a very common species and occur in similar habitats as Viola sororia. Further study is warranted.
Native Status
Native

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