Viola canina, var. Muhlenbergii. Viola canina, var. Labradorica.

Viola Labradorica

An early, stemmed species of Blue Violet, growing in moist soil from Labrador to Minnesota, and south to the Carolinas and Kentucky. Frequent in northern Ohio. March-May.

Stems

Tufted, smooth, leafy.

Leaves

Slender-petioled, reniform or orbicular, cordate, rounded or acute at apex, hooded at first.

Flowers

Vary in color from violet-blue to light blue and white; petals slightly bearded; spur short; stipules ovate-lanceolate, ciliate, entire or serrate.

This is the commonest Blue Violet of the stemmed species, found in the grass and open woods. The blossom varies; normally it is violet-blue of varying degrees of depth and more or less dark-veined; sometimes it fades to white without veins. The lateral petals are bearded and the spur slender on the type, but short and blunt in Viola canina, var. arenaria, a variety which prefers sandy soil. The leaves are kidney-shaped or broad heart-shaped, crenate at margin, and edged with hairs. The books differ widely in regard to the Dog-Violet; some consider its varied forms as species, others regard them merely as varieties. At any rate, this is one of our early Violets and most welcome. It is often confused with the Common Blue, but may be distinguished by the fact that the flowers grow from short, leafy stems, while the Common Blue flowers are stemless, the peduncles apparently springing from the ground, just as the leaves. The blossom comes a little earlier and is a little smaller. The white form is often abundant locally but cannot be considered common.

Dog-Violet. Viola Labradorica