Viola tripartita Elliott

Three Part Violet; Three Part Leaf Violet

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

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Unfortunately, there has been long confusion regarding Viola tripartita Elliott, V. glaberrima (Ging.) House, and V. tenuipes Pollard. From additional study (Ballard et al) discovered that all three are distinct entities and should not be treated as synonyms or varieties of V. tripartita as done in the past. Of these three entities, V. tripartita and V. tenuipes occur in Alabama while V. glaberrima is now excluded from our flora as it is thought to occur in the southern Appalachians but not reaching our flora area. Viola tripartita s.s. is restricted to the NE part of Alabama producing mature stem leaves that are almost always deeply divided. Viola tenuipes is more widespread in the state and has often been treated as V. glaberrima or V. tripartita var. glaberrima. It is of mesic woodlands and the leaves are never divided. Specimens below with undivided leaves longer than wide are likely identifiable with V. tenuipes and thus should be annotated as such--B.R. Keener.

Native FACU (NWPL)

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