This section is from the book "Our Early Wild Flowers", by Harriet Louise Keeler. See also: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide.
Perennial, having stems, flowers yellow. Open woods. Pennsylvania and Ohio to Georgia and Alabama. Frequent in northern Ohio. April, May.
Rather smooth, slender, four to ten inches high.
Halberd-shaped or oblong, heart-shaped, slightly serrate, acute, often mottled.
Yellow, marked with dark lines; lateral petals bearded; sepals linear, lanceolate, acute; spur short; stipules ovate, small.
Halberd-Leaved Violet. Viola hastata
The woods of northern Ohio are given in the books as the first recorded habitat of this Violet. It is a true woodland species and is often found crowded in between the anchoring divisions of tree trunks or the exposed roots of forest trees. Its leaves are especially beautiful, a deep rich green, of thicker texture than those of other Violets, and often mottled. The flower is deep yellow with dark lines.
 
Continue to: