Viola pubescens Aiton

Plants 1–4.5 dm from a short, stout, densely scaly, light brown or yellowish rhizome, softly hairy throughout, varying to essentially glabrous; lvs 2–4 near the top, often accompanied by 1–several long-petiolate, reniform-cordate radical lvs; cauline lvs orbicular-ovate to broadly ovate, short-pointed, crenate-dentate, with cordate or truncate-decurrent base, 4–10 cm, usually a little wider than long; stipules broadly ovate; stem often with 1 or 2 stipule-like sheathing bracts well above the base; fls on slender, axillary peduncles; pet clear yellow with brown-purple veins near the base, the lateral ones bearded; style bearded at the capitate summit; frs 10–12 mm, woolly or glabrous; seeds pale brown; 2n=12. Rich woods, or sometimes in meadows; N.S. to Man. and N.D., s. to S.C., Ga., La., and Tex. Apr.–June. (V. pensylvanica; V. eriocarpa, the more glabrate phase)