Distribution: Occurring on both sides of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia south to Oregon, east to Montana and Wyoming.
Habitat: Open woods, mid- to high elevations in the mountains.
Flowers: May-August
Origin: Native
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Glabrous perennial from scaly rhizomes, the aerial stems up to 5 cm. long.
Leaves blades nearly orbicular to cordate-ovate, 2-4 cm. broad, thin, often persisting through the winter; petioles 2-10 cm. long; stipules brownish, lanceolate, membranous, mostly entire.
Flowers 5-15 mm. long, the spur short, saccate; peduncles exceeding the leaves; petals lemon-yellow to gold, the lower 3 purplish-penciled, the lateral pair yellow-bearded; style head bearded.
Fruit a purplish-mottled, 3-valved capsule, ovary superior, placentation parietal, seeds brown.
Publication: London Journal of Botany 6: 73 1847.
Viola sempervirens Greene var. orbiculoides M.S. Baker
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Viola orbiculata in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Viola orbiculata checklist entry.
E-Flora BC: Viola orbiculata atlas page.
CalPhotos: Viola orbiculata photos.
USDA Plants: Viola orbiculata information.
