About Viola pubescens Aiton
Viola pubescens Aiton, commonly known as the downy yellow violet, is a plant species in the genus Viola, classified within subsection Nudicaules of section Chamaemelanium. This is a widespread North American violet that grows in rich, mesic woodlands, and sometimes occurs in meadows. Its range extends from Minnesota and Ontario east to Nova Scotia, and south to Virginia. V. pubescens produces two distinct types of flowers over the growing season: chasmogamous flowers in early spring, and cleistogamous flowers from summer through fall. It resembles the round-leaved yellow violet, Viola rotundifolia. The two species can be told apart by leaf shape and leaf margin. Additionally, V. pubescens has both basal and cauline leaves, while V. rotundifolia only has basal leaves.
