 Sepals, 5 free, lance-shaped, ciliate; 5 petals bright yellow, upper two erect, red- to purplish-brown on the underside, the lower 3, especially the lowest petal, with dark brown veins at the base; the lateral two with beard of club-shaped hairs at the base. Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Joan Avise. |
Oak Yellow Violet
Viola purpurea ssp. quercetorum A small (1.5 to 10 in.) spreading to erect perennial herb growing from a multi-stemmed woody rhizome; often in clusters; occasional in dry grassy openings of chaparral at higher elevations in the county but usually below yellow pine forest in the Santa Ana Mountains (Roberts). It can spread by short, above ground, clone-forming stems (stolons). Fruit a 3-valved capsule, 8-12 mm., minutely hairy. The seeds are said to be attractive to ants, as in all violets. 2n=24. Altitude to 6,500 ft. Flowering February to July. Note: the other similar subspecies, purpurea (2n=12) is a little smaller, and grows at higher altitude in yellow pine forest or higher, to 10,900 ft. See eflora.
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 Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Joan Avise. |
 Leaves are usually unlobed, usually dull grayish-green, with basal leaves round or ovate and irregularly wavy-dentate, upper leaves lance- or diamond-shaped, and scalloped. The deciduous leaves wither in summer and the plant dies back to the root crown. |
 Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Joan Avise. |
 Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Joan Avise. |
 Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Joan Avise. |
 Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Peter J. Bryant |
 The lowest petal is elongated into a spur at the base, seen on the underside of the flower. Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Joan Avise. |
 The two lateral petals have yellow club-shaped hairs forming a beard at the base. The lowest 2 of the 5 anthers (not visible here) have basal nectaries which extend into the petal spur. Modjeska Peak (5384 ft.), Cleveland National Forest, Orange County, CA. 4-5-12. © Joan Avise. |