Distribution: Occurring chiefly east of the Cascades crest in Washington; British Columbia to California, east to Rocky Mountains.
Habitat: Open, rocky, fairly dry slopes, moderate to high elevations in the mountains
Flowers: May-August
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies
Puberulent perennial from a slender, scaly rhizome, the aerial stems 5-15 mm. long; herbage usually glaucous-green, purplish-veined, often purplish throughout.
Leaf blades rather thick and fleshy, orbicular to lanceolate, cordate to wedge-shaped at the base, sub-entire to wavy-margined or toothed; petioles 2-6 cm. long; stipules lanceolate, entire to few-toothed.
Peduncles shorter than the leaves; flowers 5-12 mm. long, spur very short; petals yellow, brownish-penciled, the lateral pair bearded.
Fruit a 3-valved, puberulent capsule, ovary superior, placentation parietal.
Publication: Proc. Calif. Acad. Sci. 1: 56. 1855.
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ssp. venosa – goose-foot violet, purplish violet
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Viola purpurea in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database.
WA Flora Checklist: Viola purpurea checklist entry.
OregonFlora: Viola purpurea information.
E-Flora BC: Viola purpurea atlas page.
CalPhotos: Viola purpurea photos.
USDA Plants: Viola purpurea information.
