Viola labradorica
Viola affinis
alpine violet, American dog or Labrador or alpine violet, American dog violet, dog violet, Labrador violet, violette du Labrador
Le Conte's violet, sand violet, violette affine
1–5, erect (later reclining), glabrous, on caudex from subligneous rhizome.
basal and cauline;
basal: 1–5;
stipules mostly lanceolate-linear, margins usually laciniate with gland-tipped projections, apex acute;
petiole 1–9.5 cm, glabrous or puberulent;
blade reniform or ovate to deltate, 1.4–5.5 × 1.8–5.3 cm, base cordate, not decurrent on petiole, margins crenate or serrate, mostly eciliate, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces usually glabrous, sometimes pubescent adaxially near margin;
cauline similar to basal except: stipules lanceolate to ovate, margins ± entire or laciniate, projections often gland-tipped, apex acuminate;
petiole 0.5–3.6 cm, glabrous;
blade narrowly ovate to orbiculate, 1.8–2.9 × 1.5–3.1 cm, base deeply cordate to truncate, margins regularly crenate, apex obtuse to broadly rounded or apiculate.
basal, 1–6, ascending to erect;
stipules lanceolate, margins entire or fimbriate, apex acute;
petiole 2–10 cm, glabrous;
blade green abaxially, unlobed, narrowly to broadly ovate or narrowly deltate, 1.5–10 × 1.5–10 cm, not fleshy, base cordate to broadly cordate or almost truncate, margins crenate to serrate, ciliate or eciliate, apex acute to obtuse, surfaces sparsely pubescent adaxially, rarely glabrous.
5–9 cm, glabrous or pubescent.
3–15 cm, glabrous or pubescent.
sepals lanceolate, margins ciliate or eciliate, auricles not enlarged in fruit, 1–1.5 mm;
petals usually lavender-violet to violet on both surfaces, rarely white, lower 3 white basally, darker violet-veined, lateral 2 sparsely bearded, lowest 9–16 mm, spur white to pinkish violet, elongated, 4–8 mm, tip usually straight, sometimes curved up;
style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers unknown.
sepals lanceolate to ovate, margins ciliate or eciliate, auricles 1–2 mm;
petals lavender-violet to dull reddish violet on both surfaces, lower 3 white basally and darker violet-veined, lateral 2 bearded, lowest 10–22 mm, usually obviously bearded, rarely beardless, spur white or same color as petals, gibbous, 2–3 mm;
style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers from prostrate to ascending peduncles.
ovoid to ellipsoid, 5–7 mm, glabrous.
often reddish or purplish-flecked or green, ellipsoid, 5–10 mm, glabrous or puberulent.
beige to bronze, 1.5–2 mm.
beige, mottled to bronze, 1.5–2.5 mm.
= 20.
= 54.
Viola labradorica
Viola affinis
H. E. Ballard (1994) made a compelling case for including Viola conspersa within V. labradorica, which is followed here. Ballard (1992) did not recognize V. labradorica as occurring in Colorado. Several western herbaria have collections identified as V. labradorica (ASC, CS, KHD, RM, RMBL; http://swbiodiversity.org/seinet/index.pho). Labels on some collections at KHD imply that V. labradorica is considered synonymous with V. adunca var. bellidifolia.
Viola labradorica reportedly hybridizes with V. adunca, V. rostrata (= V. ×malteana House), and V. striata (= V. ×eclipes H. E. Ballard), and less frequently with V. walteri var. appalachiensis and var. walteri.
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
L. E. McKinney (1992) considered Viola affinis, and much of what botanists had called V. nephrophylla, to be essentially the same taxon. After studying additional specimens, reviewing literature (H. E. Ballard 1994; A. Haines 2001b), and discussions with others (J. Cayouette, H. E. Ballard, A. Haines, pers. comm.), he chose to maintain these as separate taxa. Reports of V. affinis in the Gulf coastal states based on specimens or photographs are usually attributable to V. missouriensis.
Viola affinis reportedly hybridizes with V. hirsutula (= V. ×consobrina House), V. cucullata (= V. ×consocia House), V. brittoniana (= V. ×davisii House), V. sororia (= V. ×filicetorum Greene [as species]), V. sagittata var. sagittata (= V. ×hollickii House), and V. nephrophylla (= V. ×subaffinis House).
(Discussion copyrighted by Flora of North America; reprinted with permission.)
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