SCIENTIFIC NAME: Viola pedatifida
COMMON NAMES: Prairie Violet, Crow-foot Violet, Larkspur Violet, Bearded Birdfoot Violet, Purple Prairie Violet, Coast Violet
BLOOM TIME: Apr, May
PLANT PROFILE:
- Only 3-6 in. tall, but flowering stems taller.
- Flowers are ¾ in, across & look like other purple violets.
- Likes full sun and moist soil.
- Rare in Illinois.
- Considered an indicator plant of high quality prairie.
- Not aggressive like some violet species.
INSECT/ANIMAL INTERACTIONS:
- Little information about flower-visiting insects is available for this species of violet, but similar violets attract Anthophorine bees, Mason bees, Eucerine Miner bees , Halictine bees, small butterflies, & Duskywing skippers .
- Syrphid flies also visit violets, but they feed on stray pollen & are non-pollinating.
- Because these insect visitors are uncommon during the spring, the Prairie Violet is capable of self-fertilization, like many other violets.
- The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies feed on this & other violets, including Variegated Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary, Aphrodite Fritillary, Regal Fritillary, & Silver-Border Fritillary.
- The small size & early growth habit of this plant provide some protection from mammalian herbivores.