Viola japonica
in A. P. de Candolle and A. L. P. P. de Candolle, Prodr. 1: 295. 1824.
Plants perennial, acaulescent, not stoloniferous, 3–10 cm; rhizome thick, fleshy. Leaves basal, ca. 5, ascending to erect; stipules ± oblong, 2-fid, proximal margins entire, distal ± serrate, apex acuminate; petiole narrowly winged distally, 1–14 cm, usually glabrous; blade unlobed, broadly ovate or triangular-ovate, 3–8 × 3–5.5 cm, base cordate, margins crenate, usually eciliate, apex acute or ± obtuse, surfaces sparsely puberulent. Peduncles 3–6 cm, glabrous or pubescent, bracteoles near middle. Flowers: sepals broadly lanceolate, margins eciliate, auricles 6–8 mm; petals light violet or whitish violet on both surfaces, lowest 3 occasionally white basally, often dark violet-veined, lateral 2 sparsely bearded or beardless, lowest 17–20 mm, spur pale to dark violet, elongated, 5–10 mm; style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers present. Capsules ellipsoid, 8–10 mm, glabrous. Seeds unknown. 2n = 48.Flowering Apr–Jun. Gardens and ruderal areas; 10–50 m; introduced; Mass.; Asia (China, Japan, Korea).
Phenology: Flowering Apr–Jun.
Habitat: Gardens and ruderal areas
Elevation: 10–50 m
Distribution
Mass., Asia (China, Japan, Korea).
Discussion
Selected References
None.