Flower ID: IMG_0370.JPG-05-12-2017 Flower name (scientific): Viola sororia Willdenow PY: 1806. Pronunciation guide: (phonetic spelling) vy-OH-la so-ROR-ee-uh Flower name (common): Common Blue Violet Family name (common): Violet Family name (scientific): Violaceae Scientific name origin: Genus: The Latin name for violets. Specific epithet: Latin for of or concerning a sister. That is, closely related. Common name origin: From the common color, despite the fact that this species can take on other colors. Violet is from the old French violete, and the Latin viola, the latter being used as the name for the genus. Flower description: Size: 0.7 to 1.3 inches (1.8 to 3.3 cm) Petal count: 5 Color: blue Other: flower arrangement, Solitary Plant description: Size: 3 to 8 inches (7.6 to 20 cm) Stem hairy: Other: Leaf description: attachment is basal, type is simple Size: Leaves up to about 7 to 9 cm long and up to about 7 to 10 cm wide. Color: Hairy: Other: Shape: leaf, oval-ovate to orbicular-cordate (IL) Origin (native, introduced, invasive): Native Status (common, uncommon, threatened, rare): Common Bloom time (typical): April to June Cycle (annual, biennial, perennial): Annual, perennial. Habitat: Prairies, fields, open woodlands, forests, streambanks, disturbed areas, roadsides, sun or shade, moist. Fruit: Seed: Importance to wildlife: Similar species (if any): Other species of Viola are similar, and variation in both flower color and leaf shape, as well as other morphological features can make it difficult to pin down a positive ID. To complicate matters, several hybrids between different Viola species are known, and in addition, a few authors treat some of the Viola species as having varietal status under V. sororia. To help ID this species the typical features to look for are a broad heart-shaped leaf with rounded teeth, lateral two petals bearded, that is, with tufts of white hairs, the lower petal generally not bearded, and flower heads about 19 to 25 mm in size. Ethnobotany: No recorded uses by tribes in the Wisconsin region, but employed by the Cherokee to treat headaches, , as an antidiarrheal, cold remedy, and to treat other ailments (Moerman, p. 597, 1998). Latitude: 44.796467 Longitude: -91.501468 Altitude: 243.90 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, Milwaukee, Monroe, Oconto, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Portage, 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, FL, 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) Click here for distribution map In Canada: (ON, QC, SK) Click here for distribution map References: Synonym(s): Basionym: na Homotypic Synonym(s): Heterotypic Synonym(s): Autonym: na Wetland Status (NC): FAC Wetland Status (MW): FAC