Viola aurea
Encyclopedia
Viola aurea is a species of violet known by the common names golden violet and bright yellow violet. It is native to eastern California
and western Nevada
, where it is known from scattered occurrences in various types of dry habitat such as the slopes of desert mountains. This herb grows from a tough taproot
and produces a woolly-haired stem up to about 13 centimeters tall. The leaves have toothed or wrinkled, rounded or oval blades borne on petioles
. They are coated in thick, white hairs. A solitary flower is borne on an upright stem. It has five yellow petals, the lowest one marked with brown veining and the upper pair tinged with brown or purple on the outer surface.
This species is sometimes considered a subspecies of Viola purpurea
.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and western Nevada
Nevada
Nevada is a state in the western, mountain west, and southwestern regions of the United States. With an area of and a population of about 2.7 million, it is the 7th-largest and 35th-most populous state. Over two-thirds of Nevada's people live in the Las Vegas metropolitan area, which contains its...
, where it is known from scattered occurrences in various types of dry habitat such as the slopes of desert mountains. This herb grows from a tough taproot
Taproot
A taproot is an enlarged, somewhat straight to tapering plant root that grows vertically downward. It forms a center from which other roots sprout laterally.Plants with taproots are difficult to transplant...
and produces a woolly-haired stem up to about 13 centimeters tall. The leaves have toothed or wrinkled, rounded or oval blades borne on petioles
Petiole (botany)
In botany, the petiole is the stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem. The petiole usually has the same internal structure as the stem. Outgrowths appearing on each side of the petiole are called stipules. Leaves lacking a petiole are called sessile, or clasping when they partly surround the...
. They are coated in thick, white hairs. A solitary flower is borne on an upright stem. It has five yellow petals, the lowest one marked with brown veining and the upper pair tinged with brown or purple on the outer surface.
This species is sometimes considered a subspecies of Viola purpurea
Viola purpurea
Viola purpurea is a species of violet which bears yellow flowers. It is known commonly as the goosefoot violet. It is a small plant which bears thick to fleshy toothed or ridged oval leaves which are mostly green but may have a purplish tint to them...
.