Distribution: Occurring west of the Cascades crest and in the Columbia River Gorge in Washington; southwestern British Columbia to California.
Habitat: Moist woods and prairies at low to moderate elevations.
Flowers: April-May
Origin: Native
Growth Duration: Perennial
Conservation Status: Not of concern
Pollination: Bumblebees, bees, flies
Sparsely pubescent perennial from scaly rhizomes, 2-10 cm. tall.
Leaf blades cordate to reniform-cordate, with coarse, rounded teeth, the petioles of the many basal leaves 10-15 cm. long; stipules 3-10 mm. long, prominently toothed.
Flowers 1.5-2 cm. long, the spur very prominent, saccate; sepals obtuse, auriculate at the base; petals bluish-violet to nearly white, strongly veined with purple, the lateral pair long-bearded; style sparsely bearded.
Fruit a 3-valved capsule, ovary superior, placentation parietal, seeds light brown.
Publication: Proceedings of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences 22(2): 308. 1887.
PNW Herbaria: Specimen records of Viola howellii in the Consortium of Pacific Northwest Herbaria database
WA Flora Checklist: Viola howellii checklist entry
OregonFlora: Viola howellii information
E-Flora BC: Viola howellii atlas page
CalPhotos: Viola howellii photos
