(Photo taken 3/27/08)Downy Yellow Violet (Viola pensylvanica)
From Missouri Wildflowers:
Flowering: March - May.
Habitat: On rich wooded slopes, thickets.
Origin: Native to U.S.
Other info: You can't miss this plant in the wild. Like most of the Violets, it blooms early and shows up well against the dark forest floor. The corolla is yellow which makes for easy identification in the wild.
Range: Throughout most of central and eastern U. S. (Please see USDA distribution map for details.)
