Plants perennial, caulescent, not stoloniferous, 10–45 cm. Stems 1–3+, ascending to erect, leafless proximally, leafy distally, glabrous or puberulent, from subligneous rhizome. Leaves basal and cauline; basal: 0–4; stipules ovate to lanceolate, margins entire, coarsely toothed, or crenate, apex acute or obtuse; petiole 2.7–19.6 cm, lanceolate, margins ciliate or eciliate, auricles 0.1–0.5 mm; petals lemon-yellow on both surfaces, lower 3 brownish purple-veined, lateral 2 and sometimes others, bearded, lowest 8–18 mm, spur yellow to greenish, gibbous, 1–2.5 mm; style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers axillary. Capsules ellipsoid, 8–12 (–20) mm, glabrous or tomentose. Seeds brown, 1.8–3 mm. 2n = 12.

Distribution

• Generated Map
• Legacy Map

Man., N.B., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask., Ala., Ark., Conn., D.C., Del., Ga., Ill., Ind., Iowa, Kans., Ky., La., Maine, Mass., Md., Mich., Minn., Miss., Mo., N.C., N.Dak., N.H., N.J., N.Y., Nebr., Ohio, Okla., Pa., R.I., S.C., S.Dak., Tenn., Tex., Va., Vt., W.Va., Wis., Wyo.

Discussion

Varieties 2 (2 in the flora).

Viola pubescens is similar in overall appearance to V. glabella.

Selected References

None.

Lower Taxa

Viola pubescens var. pubescens, Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula

Key

1	Stems 1–2, puberulent; basal leaves 0(–1), surfaces usually puberulent.	Viola pubescens var. pubescens
1	Stems (2–)3+, glabrous or puberulent; basal leaves 0–4, surfaces glabrous, sometimes sparsely strigose.	Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula

"thick" is not a number. "narrow" is not a number.