Native Violet

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©Viola hederacea Richard Hartland CC-BY

Viola hederacea


Tufted stoloniferous plant with running stems along the ground so it forms large mats or colonies. Dark green leaves that are kidney-shaped to circular with single white flowers splashed with violet. Stems are up to 10 cm tall.


Details
Flora Type
Herbs
Former Scientific Name
Viola siberiana
Other Common Names
Ivy-leaf Violet
Distinctive Features

Assymetric two-coloured flowers with winged side petals and a large lower petal. Lower petal is purple-veined with no spur, and the side petals twist to 90o. Leaves are kidney-shaped or almost circular and are broader than long.

Biology

Perennial. Moist to dryish well-drained soils in a range of forest and woodland environments. Shade to full sun.

Native Status
Native
Flowering Time

Oct-Dec

Taxonomy
Phylum
Tracheophyta (Vascular Plants)
Class
Magnoliopsida (Flowering Plants)
Order
Malpighiales
Family
Violaceae
Genus
Viola
Species
hederacea

Interesting Facts
Similar Species

Viola siberiana which has been split into several species. There is also taxonomic confusion with V. cleistogamoides which has no spur and has a short flower stalk (<3 cm).

Native Status
Native