[The Violet Family East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]
Darkwoods Violet, Evergreen Yellow Violet, Round-leaf Violet, Round-leaved Violet
Viola orbiculata
Synonyms: Viola sempervirens var. orbiculata, Viola sempervirens var. orbiculoides
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Round-leaf violet blooming in forest north of the first crossing of the North Fork Catherine Creek along the North Fork Catherine Creek Trail #1905, Eagle Cap Wilderness.........June 12, 2018.
Photo
at right of round-leaf violet from Emigrant Springs State Park, Blue Mts. of Oregon......May
30, 1999.
Characteristics:
Round-leaved violet is a wildflower with a short
rootstock and no stolons, from which individual leaves or flower stalks arise
separately. The aerial stems measure no more than 5 cm long. The herbage is
smooth-surfaced, lacking hairs. The leaves are ovate-cordate or orbicular, 2-4
cm wide, with rounded teeth on the leaf edges. The leaf tips are rounded rather
than pointed as in other similar violets. The leaves are thin in cross-section,
they lack any purple coloration that some other violets show, and they persist
through the winter.
The flowers may be found above the leaves, at the
same height as the leaves, or just barely above the leaves. The flowers are
lemon-yellow to golden in color, with purple or brown penciling on the lower
3 petals. The backs of the upper petals are yellow.
Habitat:
Round-leaved violet may be found in moist, shady
places in the forest from mid to high altitude.
Range:
Round-leaved violet may be found along both sides
of the Cascades from British Columbia south to northern Oregon and east to Idaho
and Montana.
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These 3 photos show close-ups of the flower of round-leaf violet as seen from Misery Campground in the Umatilla N.F in southeastern Washington.........July 7, 2008.
This photo shows another close-up view of round-leaf violet from Misery Campground in the Umatilla N.F in southeastern Washington..........July 7, 2008.
This photo shows round-leaf violet from Misery Campground in the Umatilla N.F in southeastern Washington.........July 7, 2008. Note the flower at right which is an atypical light creamy yellow coloration.
The photo above shows a close-up of the leaves and flower of round-leaved violet as seen along a small stream on the ridge between the Dry Creek and Cougar Creek drainages on the eastern slopes of Mt. Adams at about 4300'.........May 22, 2005.
Round-leaf violet from near Table Mt, off Reecer Creek Road,
Wenatchee N.F..........June 23, 1997.
Paul Slichter