|
|
These were almost unseen in the early spring debris of a little watercourse. Viola selkirkii is a rare plant, on the USFS list of "sensitive" plant species. Scott Smith of Denver identified these violets after conferring with Tass Kelso, an expert on violets. They are seem to have a very small window for flowering. I sought them out in 5 different years, but only found them blooming in two of those years. I saw lots of leaves, but no flowers.
Additional information at these links:
Wikipedia and Flora of North America
The flowers have unique peculiar bulblike spurs.
The glassy hairs on the upper leaf surface, and the deep sinus at the base of the leaves are diagnostic.