Viola hallii
Encyclopedia
Viola hallii is a species of violet known by the common name Oregon violet. It is native to southwestern Oregon
and northwestern California
, where it occurs in open areas in the forests and chaparral
of the coastal mountain ranges, on gravelly soils, often of serpentine
origin. This rhizomatous
herb produces a cluster of hairless stems reaching a maximum height of about 22 centimeters. The leaves are each divided into three fleshy leaflets which are deeply divided into lance-shaped lobes and borne on a short petioles
. A solitary flower is borne on a long, upright stem. It has five petals, the lower three cream-colored with yellow bases and red veining and the upper two dark red or purplish.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
and northwestern California
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...
, where it occurs in open areas in the forests and chaparral
Chaparral
Chaparral is a shrubland or heathland plant community found primarily in the U.S. state of California and in the northern portion of the Baja California peninsula, Mexico...
of the coastal mountain ranges, on gravelly soils, often of serpentine
Serpentine soil
A serpentine soil is derived from ultramafic rocks, in particular serpentinite, a rock formed by the hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle....
origin. This rhizomatous
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
herb produces a cluster of hairless stems reaching a maximum height of about 22 centimeters. The leaves are each divided into three fleshy leaflets which are deeply divided into lance-shaped lobes and borne on a short 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...
. A solitary flower is borne on a long, upright stem. It has five petals, the lower three cream-colored with yellow bases and red veining and the upper two dark red or purplish.