Viola umbraticola

Plant: perennial herb; herbs to 11 cm tall from a woody taproot. STEMS none Leaves: simple, basal, the older usually flattened to the ground; petioles 10-80 mm long, pubescent; leaf blade 10-40 mm long, 10-35 mm wide, ovate to oblong, often purple-dotted on upper and lower surfaces, the upper surface usually glabrous, the lower pubescent, the margin crenate to serrate, the base truncate to cordate, the tip obtuse INFLORESCENCE: scapose, the pedicels to 8 cm long, pubescent Flowers: sepals 4-8 mm long including the 1 mm long auricle; petals blue to violet tipped, whitish at base with nectar guides, the lateral 2 petals light blue, purple tipped, bearded, the lowest petal (including spur) 9-16 mm long, the spur elongated, conspicuous, straight, 2.5-4 mm long Fruit: FRUITS 4-11 mm long, glabrous; SEEDS ca. 15-20, usually ovoid, with a prominent caruncle Misc: In coniferous forests, often at base of shrubs or trees in dense pine duff; 1600-2400 m (5200-7800 ft); May-Aug REFERENCES: Little, R. John. Violaceae. 2001. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 33(1).