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Viola primulifolia Plant Identification (Flower, Leaf, Care, Uses)

Viola X primulifolia L. (pro sp.) – Primrose-Leaf Violet

Viola primulifolia plant

FamilyViolaceae

Stems:

N/A

Leaves:

Viola primulifolia leaves

Inflorescence:

N/A

Flowers:

Viola primulifolia calyx

Viola primulifolia flower

Flowering – February – May.

Habitat – Flatwoods, bogs, hammocks, pond and stream margins, savannahs, pocosins.

Origin – Native to North America.

Other information – This plant can be found mainly in the southern and eastern portions of Alabama. The plant used to be classified as a distinct species. At the present time it is believed that the plant is a hybrid between V. lanceolata L. and V. macloskeyi (Banks) C.L. Hitchcock. The plant is fairly easy to identify becasue of its small white flowers, habitat, and subcordate leaves.
The genus name Viola is the classical Latin name for the violets.
The species epithet means “leaves of primrose” from the Latin “primul” meaning “the primrose” and “foli(a)” meaning “a leaf”.

Alabama Distribution:

Viola primulifolia map

Photographs taken off Hwy 29, Guilford County, NC., 4-23-03.