Violet

Violets are rather rare plants but I saw a few specimen in a redwood forest, namely in Jedediah Smith National Park and also some species in the march in Crescent City. It was not really the marsh but more like a grove of some kind of trees, not just redwoods. In fact, all my attempts to find a marsh that was supposed to be there according to the map failed. But I did find two new plants.

Violets are rather difficult to distinguish among different species as they all look alike save for the colour. Our particular violet is yellow, most probably Viola sempervirens.

Violet in Jedediah Smith National Forest

Violets are easy to identify by their irregular zygomorphic (vertical symmetry) flowers and round leaves (not all species). The flowers are quite small. They bloom in late March and early April.

Here is a picture of western dog violet (Viola adunca).

Viola adunca in Patrick's Point State Park