Mountain violet Mountain violet

Plants 3–25 cm. Stems spreading to erect, usually not buried, usually elongated by end of season, ± glabrous or puberulent. Leaves: basal: 1–5; petiole 4–11 cm, puberulent; blade purple-tinted abaxially, green adaxially, often shiny, ± orbiculate to widely ovate, 1.6–4.6(–5.3) × 1.6–4.1 cm, ± fleshy, base usually attenuate, sometimes subcordate or truncate, margins irregularly crenate, apex acute to obtuse, abaxial surface glabrous or puberulent, hairs sometimes only on veins, adaxial surface usually glabrous, sometimes sparsely puberulent; cauline: petiole 1.5–19.7 cm, usually puberulent; blade ovate, deltate, or lanceolate, 1.2–4.5 × 0.8–2.5 cm, length 1–2.3 times width, base usually attenuate, sometimes ± cordate or truncate, margins crenate-serrate, abaxial surface puberulent (or along veins), adaxial surface glabrous or sparsely pubescent. Peduncles 4.5–10 cm, usually puberulent, sometimes glabrous. Lowest petals 10–12 mm. Capsules 5–6 mm. Seeds dark brown, 2.1–2.3 mm.

Flowering Mar–Jul. In openings or beneath shrubs, usually in yellow pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests or higher; 200–2900 m; Calif., Oreg.; Mexico (Baja California).