Viola Orbiculata, Woods Violet

Day 188: Half a dozen or more species of yellow violet grow in the moist forests of Washington's Cascade mountains and surrounding lowlands, each with a distinctive leaf or petal shape or other distinguishing characteristic. The Woods Violet shown here has rounded leaves with scalloped edges and fine maroon stripes on only the lower three petals of the flower. It is our most common violet.

Now the question arises: why is a yellow-flowered plant called a violet? In fact, violet violets are rather uncommon here. There are also white violets, but yellow ones most certainly outnumber those of other colors. Regrettably, I don't have the answer to that question, a disturbing mystery for someone who loves language as much as I do. So much for getting any sleep tonight, and all because of a lovely little yellow flower!