| Author | (Nuttall) Leconte | |
| Distribution | A species with a checkered past, varying from species (as in RAB [1968]) to fully lumped, or treated as a hybrid between V. sagittata and some other species. Weakley (2018) included this within V. sagittata, but his 2020 version has it split back out again. SERNEC has some specimens annotated to V. emarginata, but others are likely still included under V. sagittata. The current map reflects specimens at NCU that were annotated in July 2024 by Harvey Ballard. There may be other correctly identified specimens at other herbaria.
Southeastern NY to NC and northern GA; seemingly not found in KY and TN. | |
| Abundance | Fairly common to locally common in the Piedmont and the upper Coastal Plain, but rare to uncommon in the mountains. | |
| Habitat | Margins and openings of upland forests, rocky places, and acidic barrens. | |
| Phenology | Blooms from late March to early May, and fruits soon afterward. | |
| Identification | See Weakley et al. (2024). In general, this blue-flowered violet has rather triangular leaves, with several large teeth at the bases, and the leaf base is usually truncate. V. sagittata has leaves about twice as long as wide, rather than barely longer than wide as in this species; and that species has leaves often rather erect. V. sagittata also favors damp open ground, whereas V. emarginata occurs in dry, barren sites. Specimens at NCU display a wide range of leaf shapes (with or without lobing) and plant size--correct identification is not easy! | |
| Taxonomic Comments | RAB (1968) does list this species, with several varieties. Weakley (2020) lists three varieties, but the website editors are not yet ready to parcel out records into these, for now -- especially considering that even the full species "waffles" in its own taxonomic treatment!
General note on Viola: In 2009-10 B.A. Sorrie (website map editor) went through the whole collection at NCU, annotating all specimens against those verified by experts in the genus. The range maps in RAB (1968) have been changed accordingly. More recently, Harvey Ballard and colleagues are in the process of revising all Eastern and Southeastern Viola, and have annotated all specimens at NCU in July 2024. They recognize additional species not in RAB or in previous editions of Weakley et al.; we will follow updated editions of Weakley et al. in recognizing them. Species range maps have been adjusted to account for identification changes. | |
| Other Common Name(s) | None? | |
| State Rank | [S5] | |
| Global Rank | GNA [G5] | |
| State Status | | |
| US Status | | |
| USACE-agcp | | |
| USACE-emp | | |
