Shelton’s violet Shelton’s violet

Viola sheltonii var. biternata (Greene) A. Nelson

Plants perennial, caulescent, not stoloniferous, 3–27 cm. Stems 1–3, prostrate, decumbent, or erect, glabrous or sparsely puberulent, from short, often vertical, deep-seated or usually shallow, subligneous rhizome. Leaves basal and cauline; basal: 1–3, palmately compound, leaflets 3; stipules lanceolate-ovate, margins laciniate with gland-tipped projections, apex acute to acuminate; petiole 8.6–21 cm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent; blade reniform or ovate to ± orbiculate, 2–7 × 2–11 cm, coriaceous, base tapered, each leaflet cleft or dissected into 3 ± obovate lobes, each lobe further divided into 2–3 oblanceolate, pandurate, spatulate, oblong, lanceolate, or elliptic, lobes 2–10 mm wide, margins entire, ciliate or eciliate, apex acute to obtuse, mucronulate, surfaces glabrous or sparsely puberulent; cauline similar to basal except: stipules ovate to lanceolate, margin projections gland-tipped or eglandular, apex long-acuminate; petiole 5.5–12 cm; blade 1.2–6.3 × 1.2–10.5 cm. Peduncles 5–19 cm, glabrous or sparsely puberulent. Flowers: sepals lanceolate, margins ciliate or eciliate, auricles 0.5–1 mm; petals deep lemon-yellow adaxially, upper 2 dark brown to brownish purple abaxially, lower 3 and sometimes upper 2 brownish purple-veined, lateral 2 bearded or beardless, lowest 7–18 mm, spur yellowish with brownish purple specks, gibbous, 1–2 mm; style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers axillary. Capsules oblong to ovoid, 6–8 mm, glabrous or puberulent. Seeds brownish, shiny, ca. 2.5 mm. 2n = 12.

Flowering Mar–Jul. Red fir, yellow pine, mixed evergreen, chaparral, oak woodlands, rich or gravelly soil; 800–2500 m; Calif., Colo., Idaho, Oreg., Wash.

The cleistogamous flowers of Viola sheltonii are borne on long, prostrate peduncles usually buried in duff around the plant. Mature cleistogamous capsules are usually hidden and the dehisced seeds remain close to the parent plant. Some populations of V. sheltonii produce only cleistogamous flowers (D. Klaber 1976).