''Viola trinervata'', the sagebrush violet, is a

species A species () is often defined as the largest group of organisms in which any two individuals of the appropriate sexes or mating types can produce fertile offspring, typically by sexual reproduction. It is the basic unit of Taxonomy (biology), ...

of wildflower in the

Violaceae Violaceae is a family of flowering plants established in 1802, consisting of about 1000 species in about 25 genera. It takes its name from the genus '' Viola'', the violets and pansies. Older classifications such as the Cronquist system plac ...

family which is found in eastern Washington and Oregon.

Description

Sagebrush violet is a low growing perennial herb that produces a cluster of palmate leathery leaves with prominent veins. Each palmate leaf appears at the end of a hairless stem emerging from the ground, and each leaflet has three prominent veins (whence ''trinervata''), one in the center and two of them at or close to each leaflet edge. The showy flowers form in the spring and arise singly from basal stems. The upper two flower petals are dark purple and the lower three petals are a paler lilac (sometimes white) with a yellow base, often with radiating darker purple lines. Hitchcock, C.L. and Cronquist, A. 2018. Flora of the Pacific Northwest, 2nd Edition, p. 231. University of Washington Press, Seattle. Full technical description at Flora of North America.

Range and habitat

The sagebrush violet grows in seasonally moist big sagebrush habitat and nearby rocky hillsides on the Columbia River plateau in Washington and Oregon states at elevations of 400 to 1200 meters. Though the range of the sagebrush violet is not extensive, it is often locally common.

Ecology

The sagebrush violet seeds have a fleshy

elaiosome Elaiosomes ( ''élaion'' "oil" + ''sóma'' "body") are fleshy structures that are attached to the seeds of many plant species. The elaiosome is rich in lipids and proteins, and may be variously shaped. Many plants have elaiosomes that attract ...

, suggesting that they are dispersed in part by ants.

Gallery

Image: Viola trinervata 2.jpg, ''Viola trinervata'' flower closeup Image: Viola trinervata IMG 2044.jpg, White flower form Viola trinervata JHT IMG 2036.jpg, Leaf closeup

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q15388477 trinervata Flora of Washington (state) Flora of Oregon