Sagebrush Violet
Viola trinervata
General: Glabrous, somewhat glaucous perennial from short, thick, very deep-seated rhizomes, the stems several, naked below, 5-15 cm. tall.
Leaves: Leaf blades palmately lobed or compound, the main segments once or twice dissected, the ultimate segments narrowly elliptic, 1.5-4 cm. long; leaves leathery, prominently 3-nerved on the lower surface; petioles longer than the blades.
Flowers: Peduncles exceeding the leaves; flowers about 1.5 cm. long, usually bicolored, the upper pair deep reddish-violet, the lower 3 pale to deep lilac, with yellowish or whitish base and purple penciling, occasionally all white or all deep purple; style head hairy.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-valved capsule, ovary superior, placentation parietal.
Leaves: Leaf blades palmately lobed or compound, the main segments once or twice dissected, the ultimate segments narrowly elliptic, 1.5-4 cm. long; leaves leathery, prominently 3-nerved on the lower surface; petioles longer than the blades.
Flowers: Peduncles exceeding the leaves; flowers about 1.5 cm. long, usually bicolored, the upper pair deep reddish-violet, the lower 3 pale to deep lilac, with yellowish or whitish base and purple penciling, occasionally all white or all deep purple; style head hairy.
Fruits: Fruit a 3-valved capsule, ovary superior, placentation parietal.