Flower ID: IMG_0339.JPG-05-12-2017 Flower name (scientific): Viola pubescens Aiton PY: 1789. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) vy-OH-la pew-BES-senz Flower name (common): Smooth Yellow Violet Family name (common): Violet Family name (scientific): Violaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: The Latin name for violets. Specific epithet: Downy-hairy. Common name origin: From the color. The stem may be smooth or hairy, hence from the latter, the other common name Downy Yellow Violet. Violet is from the old French violete, and the Latin viola, the latter being used as the name for the genus. Flower description: Size: 0.3 to 0.8 inches (0.8 to 2.0 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: Yellow Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Erect Size: 4 to 18 inches (10 to 46 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal and alternate, type is simple Size: Leaves up to about 7.5 cm long and up to 6 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, oval-cordate or orbicular-cordate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Perennial Habitat: Woods, forests, streambanks, shade or part shade, mesic to dry. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Historical data: Robertson (1889, p. 172-173) made the following obervations on insect vistors to this flower: Hymenoptera (bees, wasps, sawflies, and ants); Apidae (Family of bees): Anthophora ursina, Synhalonia honesta, Ceratina dupla, Osmia albiventris (O. rustica), O. atriventris, Nomada bisignata, Andrenidce: Andrena sp., Augochlora pura, Halictus coriaceus, H. fasciatus, H. pilosus, H. connexus, H. stultus. Diptera (flies); Bombyliidae (bee flies): Bombylius fratellus. Tachinidae (tachinid flies): Gonia frontosa. Syrphidae (Hover flies, also called flower flies): Carposcalis obscura (Melanostoma obscurum), Mesograpta marginata and Paragus tibialis. Lepidotera (butterflies and moths); Rhopalocera (clade of all butterfly species): Colias philodice, Nisoniades juvenalis, N. martialis. Similar species (if any): Viola nuttallii (Yellow Prairie Violet) is similar, but this species is not recorded in Wisconsin and is listed as threatened in Minnesota, the latter state representing the most eastern edge of the range of this species in the US. Ethnobotany: The Potawatomi used the roots to prepare a medicine for treating different heart diseases (Smith, p. 87, 1933). The ojibwa employed the root to prepare a medicine for sore throat (Moerman, p. 597, 1998). Other tribes including the Cherokee and Iroquois prepared medicines for various ailments from this plant (Moerman, p. 597, 1998). Latitude: Longitude: Altitude: Distribution: In Wisconsin: (Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Buffalo, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dane, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Dunn, Eau Claire, Florence, Fond du Lac, Forest, Grant, Green, Green Lake, Iowa, Iron, Jackson, Jefferson, Juneau, Kenosha, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marinette, Marquette, Menominee, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, Price, Racine, Richland, Rock, Rusk, Sauk, Sawyer, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Walworth, Washburn, Washington, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara, Winnebago, Wood) Click here for distribution map In US: (AL, AR, CT, DC, DE, GA, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, ME, MI, MN, MO, MS, NC, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OK, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, VA, VT, WI, WV, WY) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (MB, NB, NS, ON, PE, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FACU Wetland Status (MW): FACU