Walter’s or prostrate blue violet Walter’s or prostrate blue violet

Stipule margin processes 1/2+ stipule length. Leaf blade surfaces pubescent, hairs scattered throughout or concentrated along veins, adaxial surfaces, or toward margins. 2n = 20.

Flowering Mar–May. Rich woodlands, upper floodplains, rocky ledges; 100–2000 m; Ala., Ark., Fla., Ga., Ky., La., Miss., N.C., Ohio, S.C., Tenn., Tex., Va.

Variety walteri shows an interesting transition between caulescent and acaulescent violets; its growth habit is similar to Viola odorata (A. E. Radford et al. 1968). D. Klaber (1976) reported that V. walteri forms mats to 0.6 m in diameter.

Viola walteri and V. sempervirens have a similar growth habit, the abaxial and adaxial leaf surfaces of their mature leaves are often distinctly purple-dotted, and their stems persist through the winter.

Variety walteri is reported to hybridize with V. striata (= V. ×cooperrideri H. E. Ballard).