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Viola adunca

Early-blue Violet

At a Glance: A blue flowered violet that grows from slender rhizomes and is stemless in the early season, later grow upright stem.

Height: Up to 4 inches (10 cm).
Growth Form: Herb.
Stems: Usually stemless in early part of season, later developing aerial stems.
Leaves: Leaves can be hairy or hairless; margins are finely round-toothed; reddish-brown stipules; shape: oval to heart-shaped; size: 3 cm long; color: green.
Flowers: Flowers have slender spur which is half as long as lowest petal; the lower 3 petals often have a whitish base or whitish highlights, the lateral pair of petals are white-bearded; primary color: blue to deep violet; size: 1.5 cm long.
Flowering Period: April, May, June, July.
Fruits: Small ballistic capsules with 3 valves.


Photo © 2005, Starflower Foundation

Sun/Shade Tolerance	Hydrology	Elevation Range
full sun > 80% mostly sunny 60%-80% partial sun and shade 40%- 60% mostly shady 60%-80% full shade > 80%	Common in dry and moist habitats. wet moist dry Wetland Indicator Status: NI (no indicator data)	low elevation mid elevation sub-alpine high elevation

Soil Preferences
(data not available)

Habitat Preferences
Aquatic and Wetland: Ponds or lakes Shallow pools Sloughs Swales or wet ditches Seasonally inundated areas Marshes or swamps Aquatic bed wetlands Emergent wetlands Scrub-shrub wetlands Forested wetlands Bogs, fens Seeps, springs Shorelines and Riparian: Lake shores Bog margins Streams or rivers Stream or river banks Riparian corridors River bars Floodplains Bottomlands Alluvial areas	Saltwater Areas: In or near saltwater Mud flats Tidal areas Estuaries Saltmarshes Brackish water Seashores Coastal dunes or beaches Rocky or Gravelly Areas: Coastal bluffs Cliffs Rocky slopes Outcrops Crevices Glacial outwash Gullies Slide areas Sub-alpine and Alpine: Heaths Snow beds Tundra Avalanche tracks	Forests and Thickets: Forests and woods Open forests Coniferous forests Old growth forests Deciduous forests Mixed forests Nurse logs Forest edges, openings, or clearings Thickets Meadows and Fields: Pastures or fields Meadows or grassy areas Mossy areas Disturbed Areas: Roadsides Trailsides Logged sites Burned areas Disturbed sites

Wildlife Value

(data not available)

Ethnobotanical Uses and Other Facts

Medicinal Uses: The flowers and leaves have long be used in various herbal remedies as poultices, laxatives, and to relieve cough and lung congestion. The Makah women used to eat the violet flowers and leaves during labor. The Klallam mashed the leaves and applied them to the chest or stomach to relieve pain. The crushed leaves were applied only for a few hours because they can irritate and blister the skin.
Food Uses: The flowers can be eaten and used in salads, potherbs, or tea. Some violet species are used for decoration on certain types of food such as cake. In the southern US the leaves are often added to soups as a thickening agent.

Suggested References

Alden, P., D. Paulson. 1998. National Audubon Society, Field Guide to the Pacific Northwest. Chanticleer Press. Page 164.
Gunther, E. 1973. 2nd ed. Ethnobotany of Western Washington. University of Washington Press. Page 40.
Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist. 1973. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 298.
Jacobson A.L. 2001. Wild Plants of Greater Seattle. Published by author. Page 456.
Link, R. 1999. Landscaping for Wildlife in the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press. Page 224.
Lyons, C., W. Merilees. Trees and Shrubs to Know in Washington and British Columbia. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 315.
Pojar, J., A. Mackinnon. 1994. Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast. Lone Pine Publishing. Page 201.

The landscaping and restoration information provided on this page is taken from Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium. All photographs © Starflower Foundation unless otherwise noted.