Viola rostrata
Viola affinis
long-spur violet, violette rostrée
Le Conte's violet, sand violet, violette affine
1–7, ascending to erect (often declining during anthesis), glabrous, on caudex from fleshy rhizome.
basal and cauline;
basal: 1–5;
stipules lanceolate, margins laciniate, apex acute;
petiole 1–9.6 cm, glabrous;
blade sometimes purple-spotted abaxially and/or adaxially, reniform to ovate, 1–4.5 × 1–4 cm, base broadly cordate to cordate, margins crenate to serrate, mostly eciliate, apex obtuse to acute, surfaces usually pubescent, mostly adaxially toward base, sometimes glabrous;
cauline similar to basal except: petiole 0.4–4 cm;
distal cauline blades ovate to deltate, 1–4.5 × 1–4 cm, base cordate, apex acuminate to acute.
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, usually glabrous.
3–15 cm, glabrous or pubescent.
sepals lanceolate, margins eciliate, auricles 1–2 mm;
petals pale lavender-violet on both surfaces, all white basally, lower 3 purple-black-veined, all beardless, lowest 8–20 mm, spur white, purple, or lavender-tinged, elongated, 10–20 mm;
style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers axillary.
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.
ellipsoid, 4–6 mm, glabrous.
often reddish or purplish-flecked or green, ellipsoid, 5–10 mm, glabrous or puberulent.
beige to bronze, 1.3–2 mm.
beige, mottled to bronze, 1.5–2.5 mm.
= 20.
= 54.
Viola rostrata
Viola affinis
Viola rostrata has the longest spur of any North American Viola species.
Viola rostrata reportedly hybridizes with V. labradorica (= V. ×malteana House) and V. striata (= V. ×brauniae Grover ex Cooperrider).
(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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