Viola eriocarpa
(formerly Viola pensylvanica, et al)

Smooth Yellow Violet

[ click on any image below to see larger version ]

Family: Violaceae (Violet family)

Mid-Atlantic bloom time: March - May

Like many species of violets, Smooth Yellow Violet has had many names it has gone by in the world of science. While the original field guides I used called it Viola pensylvanica, Smooth Yellow Violet is currently known as Viola eriocarpa (mostly). It was taxonomically split from Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pubescens) in 2023¹. Some of the scientific names it has been given (not even counting when it was considered part of the genus Crocion) include:

   - Viola achlydophylla
   - Viola dasyneura
   - Viola eriocarpa
   - Viola eriocarpa var. leiocarpa
   - Viola eriocarpa var. leiocarpon
   - Viola eriocarpa var. sessilis
   - Viola eriocarpa var. typica
   - Viola eriocarpon
   - Viola achlydophylla
   - Viola pensylvanica
   - Viola pensylvanica var. leiocarpa
   - Viola pensylvanica var. leiocarpon
   - Viola pubescens var. achlydophylla
   - Viola pubescens var. eriocarpa
   - Viola pubescens var. glabriuscula
   - Viola pubescens var. leiocarpa
   - Viola pubescens var. leiocarpon
   - Viola pubescens var. scabriuscula
   - Viola scabriuscula

Regardless of what you name it scientifically, Smooth Yellow Violet has broad ovate leaves. It bears both chasmogamous (open) and cleistogamous (closed self-pollinating) flowers, like many other violets. The open flowers are bright yellow with purple or brown-purple veins near the petal bases. Smooth Yellow Violet is quite similar to Downy Yellow Violet (V. pubescens), but Smooth Yellow Violet's leaves are smooth (glabrous) as opposed to the Downy's densely pubescent leaves. It usually has 2 or more stems, which are slightly pubescent. Look for Smooth Yellow Violet's fairly distinctive 5–6mm sepals.

12 April 2025 Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, VA	12 April 2025 Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, VA	12 April 2025 Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, VA	12 April 2025 Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, VA
12 April 2025 Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, VA	12 April 2025 Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, VA	12 April 2025 Riverbend Regional Park, Great Falls, VA

References

1:   Ballard, Kartesz, and Nishino. "A taxonomic treatment of the violets (Violaceae) of the northeastern United States and adjacent Canada", The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, 150(1) : 3-266, 29 March 2023.

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