Seasonal Wild Flowers

Early Dog-violet

Viola reichenbachiana

Wood Dog Violet, Pale Wood Violet

Violaceae

March to May

It is found throughout the country except for parts of the

Northwest and the far Southwest.

See the BSBI distribution map for Early Dog-violet

It grows in shady conditions on hedge-banks and

in deciduous woods, mainly on lime.

Early Dog-violet is a native, perennial herb growing

up to 15cm.

Flowers are up to 15mm with lilac petals and a dark

purple spur.

The petals are narrower and less overlapping than in

The anthers are orange, enclosing the ovary.

The style is fleshy and white with a white capitate stigma.

The spur is slender and is not grooved or notched.

The appendages are lanceolate with small,

backward-pointing appendages.

The leaves are longer than broad, ovoid and pointed.

Early Dog-violet on a hedgebank, Dorset

Flower showing style

Flower showing style and stamens

Close-up of style and capitate stigma

Close-up of stamens enclosing ovary

Side-view, lanceolate sepals, short, flattened spur

Small, backward-pointing, sepal appendages

Leaves