The
photo above shows a close-up of the leaf and flower of stream violet as seen along
the Mt. Adams Highway on Mt. Adams just north of Cunningham Creek............May
1, 2005. Note the heart-shaped leaves with broad, rounded teeth along the margins.
The stream violet is an attractive perennial wildflower which should be easily available in the nursery trade. It has erect or ascending stems arising 5-30 cm high which are leafless except on the upper one-third of the stem. The herbage of the leaves and stems is smooth, or the leaves sometimes minutely hairy. The basal leaves are broadly heart-shaped with rounded teeth on the leaf edges and with the petioles, are 10-20 cm long. The base of the leaf blade is definitely notched, while the tip is pointed.
The yellow flowers have 5 petals, the lower 3 of which are purple-veined. The individual flowers are 8-14 mm long.
1. Leaves high in vitamin C.
2. Leaves & flowers may be used in salads or tea.
3. The tea "modifies anger & strengthens the heart" (lore).
4. It is an indicator plant of Douglas fir and grand fir sites.
Stream violet may be found along streams or in moist-shady woods.
Stream violet may be found from Alaska south through the Pacific Northwest to the coastal mountains and the Sierra Nevada of California, and east to Montana. It may also be found in northeastern Asia.
In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found from the west end of the gorge east to near Mosier, OR between the elevations of 100'-4500'.
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