Western Dog Violet, Viola Adunca

Day 210: After puzzling my readers with semantically bewildering yellow Violets, today provided an opportunity to expand the record with a more "violet" example. Viola adunca (Western Dog Violet) is common in Washington and like its kin, it prefers the moist ground alongside streams and ditches. The lowest petal is heavily lined with "bee guides" and the two side petals have white beards. Another prominent feature of this Violet is the large spur, visible here on the back of the bud (the hole was made by an insect). Note how the spur projects well back from the sepal. As it matures, it will lengthen and curve upward, becoming more hooked at the tip.