The usual springtime flowering of viola riviniana is often followed by a second bloom in late summer; the only common violet which does this.
Common name:
Common dog-violet
Family:
Scientific name:
Viola riviniana
Main flower color:
Range:
All across the UK
Height:
Up to 20 cm
Habitat:
Woodland, grassland, rocky places
Flowers:
Up to 25 mm across; five purple petals, similar in size, and a spur which is blunt, upturned and shallowly notched at the base, and paler in colour than the petals, sometimes pure white. The green sepals have angular appendages at the base, and are smoothly tapering towards the tip. The lower petal is white at the base, crossed by purple veins. Flowers are attached by hairless pedicels
Leaves:
Heart-shaped, up to 4 cm long, lined by shallow teeth, long-stalked, with a pair of stipules at the base, edged by short, hair-like teeth. Sparsely hairy underneath. Leaves are present as a basal rosette, and also along the flowering stems
Season:
March to May
Rarity:
★★★★★
