Utah violet

Description:

Following Intermountain Vol. 2B (2005) and with some reservations, this is Viola utahensis Baker & Clausen. Welsh (2008) still treats under an expanded V. nuttallii which is now being generally recognized as only occurring east of the Rocky Mountains and so does not occur in Utah. The leaves however were mainly entire, also weakly crenate.This might in fact however may be V. purpurea var. venosa (the description and drawing of which in IF Vol. 2B apparently cannot be fully relied upon) because of the deep vein markings and also note the lower/basal leaves. The leaves of these related species may be dimorphic and important for identification, more so that characters that have been previously relied on. The upcoming treatment of this genus in the Flora of North America series should be helpful in that regard.May 25, 2008, Neff's Canyon, Salt Lake County, Utah under shade/vegetation, approx. 5,950 ft. elev.