Name: Viola cucullata Ait	Description: Family:  Violet (Violaceae)  Growth Form: Perennial from a thickened rootstock  Stems: There are no stems above ground Leaves:  Arising from the base on smooth stalks, the blades ovate, heart-shaped at the base, finely toothed along the edges, smooth, up to 3 inches Flower Arrangement:  Solitary Flowers:  Up to 2 inches across, in stalks longer than the leaf stalks. Petals: 5, blue to violet, with club-shaped hairs on the lateral petals, with one petal spurred behind. Stamens:  5, with 2 of them protruding into the spurred petal. Pistil:  Ovary superior. Fruits:  Green capsule with several brownish seeds.	Discussion: The time of lowering goes from Mid-April to June.  The leaves of this species reportedly have been used in soups.  Although this violet is similar in appearance to others in the state, it is distinguished by the small club-shaped hairs on the lateral petals.
Image:	Location: Habitat:  Moist woods; also in marshes Range:  Scattered throught the state of Illinois	Waypoint:  N 38 degrees 34.755 minutes W 89 degrees 04.146 minutes Elevation 475 feet

© Copyright 2004, Odin Public School #700, all rights reserved.
Photos courtesy: Odin Tech Prep Team 2004
Project courtesy: Grant Arnold, Deniz Hawley, Kristen Minor, Brian Deadmond

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