Common name:
Marsh violet
Family:
Scientific name:
Viola palustris
Main flower color:
Range:
Most of the UK; least common in the southeast
Height:
Up to 15 cm
Habitat:
Marshes, bogs, riverbanks, often on acidic soils
Flowers:
Up to 15 mm across, with five pale purple or lilac petals, the upper four sometimes recurved, and all crossed by branched, dark purple veins. The side petals are fringed with white hairs at the base. The flower spur is white, and unnotched at the tip
Leaves:
Hairless, reniform, up to 4 cm wide, lined by shallow teeth, on long stalks; both leaves and flowers grow directly from the ground, lacking a visible stem
Season:
April to July
Rarity:
★★★★★
