# stream violet (*Viola glabella*) Stream violets are pretty little flowers that grow near water. They have bright purple petals and are loved by butterflies and bees! - **Category:** [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/plant) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 6 - **Habitat:** Wetlands ![stream violet](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Viola_glabella_1.jpg&width=800) Photo: Stan Shebs, CC BY-SA 3.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Viola_glabella_1.jpg) ## Appearance The stream violet has bright yellow flowers, often with delicate purple-brown veins that act as nectar guides for pollinators. Its vibrant blooms contrast beautifully with its heart-shaped, green leaves. It typically grows in small, spreading clumps. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Plantae - **Phylum:** Tracheophyta - **Class:** Magnoliopsida - **Order:** Malpighiales - **Family:** Violaceae - **Genus:** Viola ## Interesting facts - Did you know stream violets can also make tiny, hidden flowers that never open? - Some ants love the special treat on stream violet seeds so much they help plant them! - The stream violet's bright yellow petals often have cool purple "honey guides" for insects! - This little plant loves to grow right next to gurgling streams and wet forest floors! ## Special abilities - **Seed Slingers:** Stream violet can launch its seeds away from the parent plant using explosive capsules, helping them spread far and wide. - **Shady Survivor:** Stream violet has specialized leaves that efficiently capture sunlight even in dense shade, helping it thrive in forest understories. - **Ant Allies:** Stream violet produces seeds with tasty elaiosomes, attracting ants that carry them to new locations, aiding dispersal. ## Measurements & details - **Height:** 5-30 cm - **Spread:** 15-30 cm - **Flower Size:** 1-2 cm - **Bloom Season:** Spring to early summer - **Edible:** Yes - **Toxicity:** None - **Lifecycle:** Perennial - **Pollination Method:** Insect ## Ecological connections - **Pollinates:** Two-form Bumble Bee (*Bombus bifarius*) — Gathers nectar and pollen from flowers. - **Symbiotic with:** [Black Garden Ant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/black-garden-ant) (*Lasius niger*) — Disperses seeds for their nutritious elaiosome. - **Pollinates:** Smoky-winged Beetle Wasp (*Cerceris fumipennis*) — Visits flowers for nectar. - **Eats:** [Orange Sulphur](https://www.snappit.app/explore/orange-sulphur) (*Colias eurytheme*) — Its larvae sometimes feed on violet leaves. ## Traits - [Flowering](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/flowering): Flowering plants are any plants that produce flowers as part of their reproductive cycle. - [Ornamental](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/ornamental): Ornamental plants are cultivated primarily for their aesthetic appeal, enhancing landscapes and gardens with their attractive foliage, flowers, or form. - [Spring Blooming](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/spring-blooming): Spring blooming plants produce their flowers during the spring season, often signifying the end of winter and the start of new growth. - [Fragrant Flower](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fragrant-flower): Fragrant flowers emit a pleasant aroma, often to attract pollinators or for defense. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Wetland](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wetland): This habitat trait identifies species found in wetlands, which are areas of land saturated with water, either permanently or seasonally, including marshes, swamps, and bogs. - [Freshwater](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/freshwater): Freshwater habitats include non-saline aquatic environments such as rivers, lakes, ponds, and wetlands, vital for numerous species. ## Collections - [Plants](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/plants) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low Always look but don't pick flowers, so everyone can enjoy them! ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify stream violet? Start with the whole plant, then compare leaf arrangement, leaf edges, stems and any flowers or fruit. Opposite leaves grow in pairs; alternate leaves come one at a time along the stem. These details tell you far more together than a single green leaf does. Plant Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details. ### How tall is stream violet? 5-30 cm ### How wide does stream violet spread? 15-30 cm ### How big are the flowers on stream violet? 1-2 cm ### When does stream violet bloom? Spring to early summer ### Is stream violet edible? Yes ### Is stream violet toxic? None ### What is stream violet's lifecycle? Perennial ## Where to spot - [Rim Village Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/rim-village-historic-district) — Oregon, US · Historic District - [Sitka National Historical Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/sitka-national-historical-park) — US · National Park - [Clatsop State Forest](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/clatsop-state-forest) — Oregon, US · Forest - [Mount Pisgah Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/mount-pisgah-arboretum) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Peavy Arboretum](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/peavy-arboretum) — Oregon, US · Botanical Garden - [Skagit Valley Provincial Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skagit-valley-provincial-park) — British Columbia, CA · State Park [View all places to see stream violet](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/stream-violet) ## More Plants - [white snakeroot](https://www.snappit.app/explore/white-snakeroot) (*Ageratina altissima*) - [tree-of-heaven](https://www.snappit.app/explore/tree-of-heaven) (*Ailanthus altissima*) - [western sword fern](https://www.snappit.app/explore/western-sword-fern) (*Polystichum munitum*) - [common milkweed](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-milkweed) (*Asclepias syriaca*) --- Source: [Stream Violet: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/stream-violet)