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  Scrophulariaceae : Penstemon albidus

  R. Neil Reese

  Penstemon albidus is a perennial herb arising from a short-branched caudex, with 1-5 hairy, ascending to erect stems, 15-50 cm tall. The basal leaves are petiolate, lanceolate to obovate, 2-10 cm long and 7-20 mm wide, the margins entire to finely toothed. The cauline leaves are simple, sessile, opposite, lanceolate to lance-ovate, 2.5-6.5 cm long and 7-20 mm wide, the tips pointed with entire to finely toothed margins. The inflorescence consist of 3-10 opposite pairs of flower clusters on short, peduncles arising from leaf axils in the upper plant, each cluster with 2 to 7 short-pedicellate flowers. The calyx is covered with glandular hairs, with 5 lobes, 4-7 mm long. the weakly bilabiate corolla is white to light pink, funnel-shaped, 6-8 mm wide with red-purple nectar guides on the inside. The lower lip has 3 nearly equal, downward pointing lobes, the upper lip is erect, with 2 lobes only slightly smaller than the lower lobes. There are 4-fertile (2-short, 2-Long) stamen and a sterile staminode. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 8-12 mm long. White beardtongue blooms from April into July on open prairies and hillsides throughout South Dakota.

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  Scrophulariaceae : Penstemon angustifolius

  R. Neil Reese

  Penstemon angustifolius is a perennial herb arising from a short-branched caudex, with 1-10, ascending to erect stems, 15-50 cm tall, often with a waxy coating. The basal thick leaves are sessile to having a short, winged petiole, linear to oblanceolate, 4-9 cm long and 2-18 mm wide, the margins entire. The cauline leaves are simple, sessile, clasping, opposite, linear to lanceolate, 3-11 cm long and 2-24 mm wide, the tips pointed with entire margins. All of the leaves are generally covered with a blue waxy coating. The inflorescence consist of 5-15 opposite pairs of flower clusters on short, peduncles arising from leaf axils in the upper plant, each cluster with 4 to 8 short-pedicellate flowers. The calyx is smooth and waxy, sometimes with a few short hairs, with 5 lobes, 4-8 mm long. The bilabiate corolla is white to lavender to blue, tubular, 14-20 mm long, 4-6 mm wide with violet to red-purple nectar guides on the inside. The 3 lobes of the lower lip and 2 lobes of the upper lip are slightly reflexed with a few white hairs on the inside of the lower lip. There are 4-fertile (2-short, 2-Long) stamen and a sterile staminode, that is bearded with yellow hairs. The fruit is an ovoid capsule 9-14 mm long. Narrowleaf beardtongue blooms in May and June on open prairies and sandhills in western South Dakota.

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  Scrophulariaceae: Penstemon gracilis

  R. Neil Reese

  Penstemon gracilis is a perennial herb with 1-several erect stems growing from a woody caudex, generally 20-50 cm tall and often reddish colored with glandular hairs toward the top. The simple basal leaves have a short, winged petiole, the lanceolate to ovate blade 2.5-7.5 cm long and 4-15 mm wide, with a few to many teeth. The linear to lanceolate cauline leaves are opposite, clasping the stem, 2.5=9 cm long and 2-15 mm wide, with similarly toothed margins. The leaves are smooth to sparsely hairy. The inflorescence is a panicle, 5-21 cm long, of 2-6 flowered axillary cymes. The 5 calyx lobes are 4-6 mm long and up to 2 mm wide, with glandular hairs. The corolla is bilabiate, 15-22 mm long, pale lavender to pink externally and lighter colored within. The slender corolla tube has glandular hairs, the throat is 4-6 mm wide, with darker lines inside and a beard of whitish hairs going back about halfway. The upper lip is reflexed, and the lower lip extended. The 4 black-tipped stamens hug the upper surface, and a sterile lower stamen forms a beard of yellow hairs. The fruit is a 6-8 mm long capsule. Slender beardtongue blooms from May to August on sandy or gravelly soil in prairies, valleys, and at lower elevations in mountains throughout much of South Dakota.

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  Scrophulariaceae : Penstemon grandiflorus

  R. Neil Reese

  Penstemon grandiflorus is a weakly perennial herb with 1-3 erect, smooth, waxy stems arising from a woody caudex growing up to about 1 m tall. The blue-green leaves are both basal and cauline, thick (succulent) and often covered in a waxy bloom, with entire margins. The basal and lower most stem leaves are shortly petiolate, spatula-shaped to orbicular, 3 to 16 cm long, 1-5 cm wide, rounded to pointed at the tip and tapering at the base. The sessile, opposite, ascending cauline leaves are 2- 9 cm long, 1.5-5 cm wide, more broadly egg-shaped, clasping at the base and reduced to bracts on the upper stem. The inflorescence consists of 3-9 clusters of flowers, with peduncles arising in the axils of the upper leaves, each cluster having 2-4 flowers on short pedicels. The green calyx has 5 lobes, 7-11 mm long. The bilabiate corolla is 35-48 mm long, abruptly inflated, lavender to bluish purple in color, the throat 15-18 mm wide, with magenta nectar guides on the inside. The lobes of the upper lip are spreading to reflexed, the lower lips spreading. The style and 4 stamens with black anthers hug the upper part of the tube and a white sterile stamen with a few yellow hairs on its tip is contained within the tube. The fruit is an ovoid capsule, 16-25 mm long containing several black to brown seeds up to 4 mm long. Large-flowered beardtongue blooms in May and June on prairies scattered throughout South Dakota.

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  Scrophulariaceae : Scrophularia lanceolata

  R. Neil Reese

  Scrophularia lanceolata is a perennial herb growing 30 to 90 cm tall from a fibrous root system. The stems are erect, square in cross-section, and slightly hairy to glabrous. Leaves are opposite, simple, and lanceolate to ovate-lanceolate, 5 to 12 cm long and 2 to 5 cm wide, with serrated margins and a pointed tip, dark green above and lighter beneath. The plant flowers from June through August. The inflorescence is a terminal or axillary cyme with small tubular flowers about 10 to 15 mm long. Each flower has five free, greenish sepals that are ovate and about 2 to 3 mm long, and five free, reddish to purplish petals fused at the base forming a tubular bilabiate, corolla with spreading lobes. The upper lip 2-lobed and the lower lip shorter with 3 lobes. There are four stamens per flower, with filaments about 6 to 8 mm long inserted inside the corolla tube and yellow anthers approximately 2 to 3 mm long. The pistil is single with one locule, about 5 to 7 mm long, a style 3 to 4 mm long, and a bilobed stigma. The fruit is a dry, ovoid capsule about 8 to 12 mm long that ripens in late summer and splits open to release numerous small seeds. Lanceleaf figwort is native to South Dakota, occurring in open woods, prairies, and along roadsides throughout much of the state.

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  Scrophulariaceae: Verbascum thapsus

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbascum thapsus is a biennial herbaceous plant with a deep taproot. In the first year, it forms a dense basal rosette of large, soft, woolly leaves; in the second year, it produces a tall, erect flowering stem reaching 1–2.5 meters in height. Stems are stout, covered densely with soft, woolly hairs, giving a silvery-gray appearance. Leaves are alternate, simple, broadly ovate to lanceolate, 10–40 cm long and 5–20 cm wide, with entire or slightly wavy margins and acute to rounded tips. Both leaf surfaces are densely covered with soft, velvety hairs. Petioles are short or absent in basal leaves and longer in stem leaves. Flowering occurs from June to September, with inflorescences forming a large, dense, spike-like raceme up to 60 cm long, bearing numerous yellow, five-petaled flowers. The calyx consists of five green, ovate sepals, 7–10 mm long, free and slightly hairy. The corolla has five bright yellow petals, 15–25 mm long and 10–15 mm wide, fused at the base and spreading widely. Each flower has five stamens with filaments covered in purple glandular hairs and yellow anthers about 3–5 mm long. The pistil is single, with a superior ovary, slender style, and bifid stigma. The fruit is a small, ovoid to ellipsoid capsule, 4–6 mm long, containing numerous tiny seeds, maturing from August to October. Common mullein is introduced in South Dakota, native to Europe and Asia, and commonly found in disturbed sites, roadsides, fields, and waste areas, thriving in well-drained, sandy to loamy soils under full sun.

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  Solanaceae : Physalis longifolia

  R. Neil Reese

  Physalis longifolia is a perennial herb from a deep caudex and spreading by shoots from lateral roots. The erect stems are erect, often branching, and typically covered with fine hairs, giving them a somewhat rough texture, 30-100 cm tall, often purplish, with a few sparse hairs, especially on younger shoots. The simple, alternate leaves have petioles 1-6 cm long and the blades are lanceolate to lance-linear or occasionally rounder approaching ovate, 3-13 cm long and 1-7 cm wide. The margins vary greatly from entire to wavey to unevenly toothed. Flowering occurs from late spring to late summer (May–August). The flowers are usually single on a slender pedicel, 5-15 mm long that increases as fruit develop. Flowers are axillary, solitary, nodding, about 1–2 cm wide. At flowering, the calyx consists of five green sepals 7-12 mm long, that are fused at the base with free lobes about half of the length, pointed at the tips and have fine hairs along their margins, giving the calyx a slightly fuzzy texture. The calyx forms a bell-shaped structure that surrounding the base of the corolla. The corolla has five yellow petals, 10-15 mm long, marked with brownish purple spots near the center. The petals are fused at the base forming a bell shape. There are 5 stamens with yellow anthers, the filaments flattened and nearly as wide as the anthers. The fruit is a globose berry, maturing from August through October, yellow when ripe, 8-15 mm in diameter, surrounded by the papery calyx that extends to 2-3 cm in length. Longleaf ground cherry is native to South Dakota and commonly found in dry, open habitats such as prairies, sandy soils, roadsides, and disturbed areas, mainly in the central and western parts of the state.

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  Solanaceae: Solanum dulcamara

  R. Neil Reese

  Solanum dulcamara is a perennial, woody, semi-climbing vine or scrambling shrub that can reach lengths up to 3 meters. The stems are slender, flexible, and covered with fine hairs, giving a slightly rough texture. Leaves are alternate and simple, broadly ovate to lanceolate with 2 to 5 deep lobes, measuring 3 to 9 cm long and 2 to 7 cm wide. The upper leaf surface is smooth and dark green, while the lower surface is lighter and may have fine hairs. Petioles are slender and typically 1 to 5 cm long. . The plant flowers from May through September. The inflorescence is a terminal or axillary cluster of star-shaped, purple to violet flowers about 15 to 25 mm in diameter. Each flower has five free, pointed green sepals about 5 to 8 mm long and 2 to 3 mm wide. The petals are fused at the base, forming a shallow star shape with five lobes, each petal is 10 to 15 mm long and 5 to 8 mm wide, with wavy or slightly curled margins. There are five stamens per flower with yellow anthers about 3 to 5 mm long, which release pollen by pores (poricidal dehiscence). The pistil has a single ovary with two fused carpels forming two locules, a style about 5 to 7 mm long, and a small stigma. The fruit is a bright red, oval berry about 10 to 15 mm long that ripens from July to October, containing numerous small seeds. Bittersweet nightshade is native to Europe and Asia but is naturalized and considered invasive in South Dakota, where it grows in wetlands, along streams, roadsides, and disturbed sites.

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  Solanaceae: Solanum rostratum

  R. Neil Reese

  Solanum rostratum is an annual, herbaceous plant with a taproot system. It typically grows 30–100 cm tall. The stems are erect or spreading, densely covered with yellow prickles and stellate hairs, giving them a rough texture. Leaves are alternate, simple, and deeply pinnatifid, measuring 5–15 cm long and 3–10 cm wide, with oblong to ovate lobes. Both upper and lower surfaces are green and densely pubescent with star-shaped hairs; petioles are present, 2–8 cm long, and also prickly. Flowering occurs from June to September, with solitary or few-flowered inflorescences (cymes) arising in the leaf axils, each flower about 2–3 cm in diameter. The calyx has five sepals, 8–15 mm long and 3–6 mm wide, lanceolate, green, fused at the base, and armed with prominent yellow spines. The corolla consists of five bright yellow petals, 18–25 mm long and 10–18 mm wide, fused at the base and forming a star shape. There are five stamens, markedly unequal in size; one is much longer than the others, with anthers 6–10 mm long, yellow, and prominently projecting from the flower. This stamen arrangement is a key distinguishing feature, with one larger anther adapted for attracting pollinators and the others for pollen transfer. The pistil is single, with an ovary about 3–4 mm in diameter; the style is slender, 7–10 mm long, and the stigma is slightly capitate and greenish, just above the level of the anthers. The fruit is a globose berry, 1–1.5 cm in diameter, green when immature and turning yellow at maturity, enclosed in a spiny calyx; fruits mature from August to October. Buffalo bur is native to South Dakota, it occurs in disturbed habitats such as roadsides, fields, and overgrazed pastures, establishing readily in sandy or gravelly soils.

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  Urticaceae: Laportea canadensis

  R Neil Reese

  Laportea canadensis is an unbranched, rhizomatous, perennial herb growing 40-100 cm tall. The stems, petioles, inflorescence branches and sometimes the leaf midribs are sparsely to densely covered with stinging hairs. The simple, alternate, petiolate leaves have ovate to elliptic blades, 8-20 cm long and 5-13 cm wide, rounded at the base and pointed at the tip, with petioles 3-11 cm long. The blade margins are toothed and the surfaces are smooth to covered in short bristly hairs. The plants are monoecious with the flowers in clusters in the upper leaf axils, female flowers above, reaching above the leaves and the male flowers below, not exceeding the leaves. The minute male flowers have 5 sepals and 5 stamens and the female flowers have 4 sepals, the inner pair larger than the outer pair which often abort. The fruit is an achene enclosed by the inner sepals. Wood nettle blooms from July into September in moist woods in eastern South Dakota.

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  Urticaceae : Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis

  R. Neil Reese

  Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis is a rhizomatous perennial herb with simple, erect, squarish stems, growing up to 3 m in height, with few to many stinging hairs on the stems. The alternate leaves are petiolate, the petioles equal to or shorter than the blades, with a sparse covering of stinging hairs and a pair of stipules at the base. The blades are larger and ovate toward the base, 1-6 cm long, 1-4 cm wide, and smaller, ovate to lanceolate towards the top, often somewhat folded lengthwise, the edges sharply toothed, the veins sunken on the upper surface and raised below. The upper surface of the leaf blades are typically hairless, with the lower surface being smooth, sometimes having a few tiny hairs, or stinging hairs. The plants are monoecious with clusters of male or female flowers in axillary panicles or sometimes in long string-like strands, usually in pairs, the inflorescence longer than the subtending leaf petiole. Both male and female flowers are 4-merous, tiny and indistinct, creamy green to pinkish in color. The fruit are ovate, tan to brown achenes about 1.5 mm long and < 1 mm wide. Stinging nettle blooms from June into September in moist woods, along streams, lakes and ditches throughout South Dakota.

  Synonym: Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis

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  Valerianaceae: Valeriana edulis

  R. Neil Reese

  Valeriana edulis is a long-lived, dioecious perennial herbaceous forb that develops a stout, deeply penetrating, fleshy taproot extending from a short, branched woody crown. The plant reaches an overall height of 30 to 120 cm, supported by single or multiple erect, thick, succulent, hollow stems that are generally glabrous except at the slightly swollen nodes. Leaf insertion is primarily basal, forming a dense rosette, with none to a few opposite pairs distributed along the upper stem. The basal leaves are simple, light to medium green, thick, narrowly oblanceolate to linear-oblanceolate, measuring 10 to 30 cm long and less than 2.5 cm wide, with nearly parallel venation, a smooth margin densely fringed with short, stiff, white cilia, and a short, winged petiole. In contrast, the upper cauline leaves are sessile, much shorter, and pinnately compound or deeply cleft into 3 to 9 irregular, narrow, finger-like linear segments. Flowering occurs from May through August depending on elevation, featuring a dense, terminal, panicle-like cyme that measures 10 to 30 centimeters long, which elongates and becomes more open as the season advances. The sepals are highly modified, minute, and fused to the top of the inferior ovary during bloom, later unrolling into 10 to 20 free, plumose, feather-like bristles that expand up to 5 mm long to aid in wind dispersal. The petals are small, white to pinkish-white, 2 to 4 m long, and fused at the base into a short, funnelform corolla tube with 5 spreading, unequal, lobes. Staminate flowers possess 3 separate, long-exserted stamens featuring white filaments and yellow anthers, while pistillate flowers lack functional stamens. The single pistil consists of an inferior, 3-celled ovary (with only one fertile ovule) topped by a single slender style and a short, 3-lobed stigma. The fruit is a dry, 1-seeded achene (oval-oblong, 3 to 5 mm long, glabrous, straw-colored to light brown) that reaches full maturity from late July through September. Edible valerian is native to South Dakota, where it is restricted to three western counties within the Black Hills region, inhabiting moist subalpine meadows, grasslands, and calcareous mountain wetlands.

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  Valerianaceae: Valeriana occidentalis

  R. Neil Reese

  Valeriana occidentalis is a perennial, herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and short, thick rhizomes, forming loose clumps. Mature plants typically reach 30–90 cm in height. Stems are erect, branched or unbranched, round, and smooth to sparsely hairy. Leaves are opposite or whorled, compound, ternate to pinnate, with leaflets ovate to lanceolate, 2–8 cm long and 1–3 cm wide, with serrated margins and pointed tips. Leaf surfaces are medium green, with both surfaces glabrous or sparsely hairy. Petioles are present and range from 2–8 cm in length. Flowering occurs from June to August, with inflorescences forming dense, compound cymes up to 10 cm wide, bearing numerous small, tubular, funnel-shaped flowers about 5–8 mm long. Flowers have five greenish-white sepals, 1–2 mm long, free and lanceolate, and five fused petals forming a corolla tube 4–7 mm long with five spreading lobes. Stamens number five, inserted on the corolla tube, with yellow anthers approximately 1 mm long. The pistil consists of a single ovary with a slender style and a capitate stigma. The fruit is a small, dry, ribbed achene, 2–3 mm long, maturing from July to September. Western valerian is native to South Dakota, occurring mainly the Black Hills in montane meadows, open forests, and moist slopes, favoring well-drained, moderately rich soils under full sun to partial shade.

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  Verbenaceae : Glandularia bipinnatifida

  R. Neil Reese

  Glandularia bipinnatifida is a prostrate to ascending, mat-forming, short-lived perennial herb growing from a somewhat woody, branched base, with stems up to 60 cm long, moderately to densely covered with bristly hairs. The stems occasionally rooting from the lower nodes. The petiolate leaves are opposite, 1-6 cm long, 3-parted to compound bipinnate, with stiff appressed hairs on both surfaces and rolled margins. The inflorescence consists of flattened spikes 1-20 cm long, on peduncles originating at the ends of branches. The tubular calyx is green, 7-10 mm long, with 5 unequal lobes, 1-4 mm long. The pink to purple corolla tube is about 1.5 times the length of the calyx, covered with hairs on the outside, with reflexed, notched limbs, 7-10 mm wide. The fruit are nutlets, 4-seeded, 2-3 mm long. Dakota mock vervain blooms from May into October on dry plains, prairies and along roadsides in the southern counties in South Dakota.

  Synonym: Verbena bipinnatifida

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  Verbenaceae: Phryma leptostachya

  R. Neil Reese

  Taxonomic Description:

  Phryma leptostachya is a perennial herb growing 30 to 90 cm tall from a fibrous root system. The roots are slender and moderately deep, anchoring the plant in well-drained soils. The stems are slender, erect and unbranched or sparsely branched, often with fine, soft hairs giving them a somewhat rough texture. Leaves are opposite or whorled near the base, ovate to lanceolate, 5 to 12 cm long, 2 to 5 cm wide, with serrate margins, a rough texture, and petioles 1–3 cm long. The flowers are small and tubular, clustered in slender, spike-like racemes at the top of the stems, blooming from July through September. The calyx consists of five narrow, green to reddish sepals, each about 3 to 5 mm long, with pointed tips and often faintly hairy margins. Each flower has a tubular corolla about 8 to 12 mm long, with a two-lipped structure; the upper lip is hooded, and the lower lip is three-lobed. Flowers have four didynamous (two long and two short) stamens and a single pistil with a superior ovary. Fruits develop from August through October, maturing into small, two-chambered capsules, 6–10 mm long, that split open to release seeds. American lopseed is native to South Dakota and typically found in rich, moist woodlands, shaded slopes, and along stream banks, mostly in the eastern part of the state.

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  Verbenaceae : Verbena hastata

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbena hastata is a short-lived, perennial herb with square, green to reddish stems, usually branched above, with short, rough hairs, growing 0.5-2.5 m tall. The simple, opposite, petiolate, lanceolate to lance-ovate leaves are 4-18 cm long, toothed, pointed at the tip and often 3-lobed at the base. The lower leaf surface is hairy, the upper smooth to sparsely hairy and the veins appearing sunken. The inflorescence consists of stiff, terminal, many-flowered spikes. The flowers are subtended by small bracts. The calyx is 2.5-3 mm long, tubular and 5-toothed and hairy on the outer surface. The blue to purplish corolla tube is about twice as long as the calyx, with 5 reflexed lobes, 2-3 mm long. the fruit are 4 nutlets enclosed in the persistent calyx. Blue vervain blooms from June to October in moist meadows and woodland, along streams and springs in all but the NW corner of South Dakota.

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  Verbenaceae : Verbena stricta

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbena stricta is a short-lived, perennial herb with erect stems, usually branched above, with a dense covering of hairs, growing 20-120 cm in height. The simple, opposite, erect to spreading, ovate to orbicular leaves are 3-7 cm long, sessile or nearly so, toothed, broadly pointed at the tip. The lower leaf surface is densely covered in hairs with prominent veins, the upper is hairy and wrinkled. The inflorescence consists of 1-several stiff, terminal, many-flowered spikes on each branch. The flowers are subtended by small bracts about the size of the calyx. The calyx is 4-5 mm long, tubular and 5-toothed, and densely covered with hairs. The blue to purple, rarely white, hairy corolla tube is about slightly longer than the calyx, with 5 reflexed lobes that create a disk 8-9 mm across. The petal lobes are slightly unequal in size, the 2 lateral lobes largest and the lower lobe notched at the tip. The fruit are 4 nutlets, 2.5-3 mm long, enclosed in the persistent calyx. Hoary vervain blooms from May to September in pastures, prairies, along roadsides and in wastelands throughout South Dakota.

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  Verbenaceae: Verbena urticifolia

  R. Neil Reese

  Verbena urticifolia is a perennial, herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and short rhizomes, forming loose clumps. Mature plants typically reach 30–90 cm in height. Stems are erect, slender, square in cross-section, branched, and covered with spreading, rough hairs. Leaves are opposite, simple, ovate to lanceolate, 5–12 cm long and 2–5 cm wide, with serrated margins and pointed tips; both leaf surfaces are rough-hairy, especially along the veins. Petioles are present, 1–4 cm long. Flowering occurs from July to September, with inflorescences forming slender, spike-like racemes 5–15 cm long, bearing many small, white to pale lavender flowers. Each flower has a calyx with five green, lanceolate sepals about 3–5 mm long, fused at the base, and a corolla with five fused petals forming a tubular, two-lipped flower about 5–7 mm long. Stamens number four, didynamous (two long and two short), with white filaments and yellow anthers. The pistil consists of a single ovary with a slender style and bifid stigma. The fruit is a four-lobed schizocarp that splits into four one-seeded nutlets, each about 2 to 3 mm long, maturing from August to October. White vervain is native to South Dakota , found in eastern and southern counties. in moist to mesic woodlands, thickets, roadsides, and shaded areas, often in rich, well-drained soils under partial to full shade.

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  Violaceae: Viola adunca

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola adunca is a perennial, herbaceous plant with a fibrous root system and short rhizomes, forming loose clumps or patches. Mature plants typically reach 10–30 cm in height. Stems are slender, erect or ascending, and mostly leafless, with a few basal and cauline leaves. Leaves are alternate, simple, and mostly basal, with ovate to lanceolate blades 2–8 cm long and 1–4 cm wide, with crenate to serrate margins and an acute to rounded tip. Leaf surfaces are medium green and glabrous or sparsely hairy on both sides; petioles are slender and 3–10 cm long. Stipules are present, ovate to lanceolate, 5–10 mm long, often toothed or fringed. Flowering occurs from May to July, with solitary, showy, zygomorphic flowers borne on slender peduncles rising above the foliage. Flowers are 15–25 mm wide with five petals: the lower petal is spurred, 10–15 mm long and 3 to 6 mm wid. The upper four petals are violet to blue purple with darker veining; petals are free and spreading. Sepals number five, are narrow, lanceolate, green, 6 to 10 mm long and 1.5 to 2.5 mm wide, free and spreading. Stamens number five, with yellow anthers bearing nectar spurs. The pistil is single, with a superior ovary, slender style, and capitate stigma. The fruit is a small, ovoid capsule, 5–7 mm long, maturing from July to August, containing numerous tiny seeds equipped with elaiosomes that encourage ant dispersal. Early blue violet is native to South Dakota and occurs in moist meadows, open forests, stream banks, and grasslands, preferring well-drained to moist, sandy or loamy soils under full sun to partial shade.

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  Violaceae: Viola canadensis

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola canadensis var. rugulosa is a caulescent, colony-forming, perennial herb, spreading by stolons, with 1-several stems growing 20-40 cm in height. The leaves are simple, green to grayish green, heart-shaped, shallowly toothed and hairy, especially along veins on the underside. There are 3-5 basal leaves with long petioles, the blades up to 10 cm wide, usually not quite as long, the edges scalloped and with pointed tips. The alternate cauline leaves are similar but generally more ovate, with membranous stipules 8-15 mm long. The flowers arise singly on a peduncle from the axils of the upper leaves. The 5 green sepals are 4-6 mm long, often with a few short hairs. The corolla is irregular with 5 petals, white on the inside, with a yellow base, and purplish on the outside. The spurred lower petal and the 2 lateral petals have purple lines toward the base, and the lateral petals are bearded (have tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. There are 5 stamens surrounding the pistil and the style is usually bearded. The fruit is a capsule 6-10 mm long. Canada white violet blooms from May through August in woodlands in eastern and northwestern South Dakota.

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  Violaceae: Viola eriocarpa

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola eriocarpa is a long-lived perennial, caulescent herbaceous forb that arises from a short, thick, horizontally creeping underground rhizome supported by a fibrous root system. The plant typically reaches a mature height of 15 to 35 cm. It usually develops two to several weak, smooth, light green stems from a single cluster; these stems are often slightly decumbent near the base before growing erect. The leaves exhibit an alternate insertion pattern along the upper stem while also forming a distinct basal rosette of 1 to 5 leaves. The leaf type is simple. The blades are a vibrant medium-green color, measuring 5 to 10 cm in length and width, and are broadly ovate-cordate to orbicular-cordate (heart-shaped) with finely toothed margins. The upper and lower leaf surfaces are mostly smooth or glabrous, though sparse hairs may occasionally occur along the primary veins on the underside. Long, smooth petioles are present, measuring 5 to 15 cm in length on basal leaves and shortening significantly as they ascend the stem. Prominent green, leaf-like stipules are present at the bases of the stem leaves, featuring a broadly ovate to lanceolate shape with entire to irregularly erose margins. Flowering occurs from April through June. The inflorescence consists of solitary, open-pollinated flowers borne on slender, axillary peduncles that rise slightly above or level with the leaves. Each flower features 5 free, light green sepals that are narrowly lanceolate to linear, measuring 4 to 6 mm long and 1 to 1.5 mm wide, with smooth margins and sharp, pointed tips. The 5 free petals are bright yellow, measuring 10 to 15 mm long and 6 to 10 mm wide; the three lower petals feature distinct, dark purple-brown nectar guides on their inner throat, and the side petals are visibly bearded with short white hairs near the base. Tucked inside the corolla throat are 5 distinct stamens measuring 1 to 2 mm long; they are pale cream to white with orange-tipped anthers that form a tight ring around the pistil. The single pistil contains a superior, 1-celled ovary measuring about 2 mm long, capped by a single club-shaped style and a slightly curved, knobby stigma. The fruit is an oval, 3-valved capsule measuring 10 to 12 mm long that varies from densely woolly-pubescent to completely hairless. It turns a tan or light brown color at maturity between June and August, violently exploding open to eject its seeds. Smooth Yellow Violet is native to South Dakota, where it occurs primarily within the moist, deciduous woodlands, river valleys, and shaded rich slopes of the eastern and far western regions of the state. Distinguishing Viola eriocarpa (Smooth Yellow Violet) from Viola pubescens (Downy Yellow Violet) can be exceptionally challenging due to their close historical relationship. V. eriocarpa have distinct basal leaves arising directly from the rootstock. And glabrous foliage. V. pubescens lacks basal leaves and is densely fuzzy or velvety.

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  Violaceae: Viola nephrophylla

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola nephrophylla is an acaulescent perennial herb growing from a branching caudex. The basal leaves have petioles 5-20 cm long with lanceolate stipules. The blades are simple, green, heart-shaped, smooth or occasionally having a few short hairs, the margins with shallow rounded teeth. The flowers develop on a peduncle that is as tall or taller than the leaves. The 5 green sepals are 5-7 mm long and usually hairless. The corolla is irregular, with 5 blue petals that are 10-20 mm long. The lower petal has a short spur, and it and the 2 lateral petals have a whitish base, are bearded (have tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. Additionally, there are cleistogamous flowers (small flowers that don’t open) on erect to prostrate peduncles. The fruit is a smooth capsule 6-8 mm long. Northern bog violet blooms in May and June in moist prairies and along streams and lakes in all but the central region of South Dakota.

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  Violaceae: Viola nuttallii

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola nuttallii is a perennial, herbaceous, caulescent plant developing from a thick, vertical, woody rhizome that anchors a deep taproot system suited for arid prairie environments. The plant reaches a height of 2 to 27 cm and produces 1 to 6 ascending to erect stems that are characteristically about half-subterranean and covered in fine, short hairs. Leaf insertion is both basal (forming a minor rosette of 1 to 6 leaves) and cauline (alternate along the stems). The leaf type is simple, deeply green, measuring 2 to 10 cm in length and 0.5 to 3 cm in width, with a distinct lanceolate, elliptic, or narrowly ovate shape featuring an entire to finely irregular margin and lacking a notched base. Both the upper and lower leaf surfaces are typically glabrous to minutely puberulent, and the leaves are borne on long, minutely puberulent petioles measuring 2 to 17 cm long. Stipules are present and prominently adnate to the petiole, forming two linear-lanceolate wings with entire margins and free, acute, few-toothed apex tips. Flowering occurs early in the season, typically from April through July, with solitary, flowers arising from the upper leaf axils. The calyx consists of 5 free, green, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate sepals measuring 4 to 8 mm long and 1 to 2.5 mm wide, characterized by prominent, short basal auricles. The corolla is composed of 5 free petals that are deep yellow on the inside face but often tinged with brownish purple on the back; the two lateral petals are distinctly bearded with internal hairs, and the lowest three petals exhibit prominent brownish-purple nectar lines. The reproductive structures include 5 distinct stamens that are small, cream-colored, and tightly surrounding the ovary, with prominent dorsal appendages. The single pistil consists of a superior, 3-carpelled ovary topped by a curved style with a characteristically hairy, capitate style tip and an unspurred stigma opening. The fruit is an erect, dry, 3-valved, subglobose capsule measuring 6 to 9 mm long, which changes from pale green to tan or light brown upon reaching maturity between late June and August. The yellow prairie violet is native to South Dakota, where it can be found primarily across the western and central portions of the state, colonizing dry, open grasslands, sagebrush-steppe lands, and exposed bluffs.

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  Violaceae: Viola pedatifida

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola pedatifida is an acaulescent perennial herb growing from an erect, ascending and sometimes branching caudex. The green basal leaves are up to 55 mm long by 87 mm wide, usually palmately 3-parted, with each part divided into linear lobes that are divided again, the margins with fine hair. The petioles are up to 15 cm long having narrowly lanceolate stipules. The flowers develop on a peduncle that is usually taller than the leaves. The 5 green sepals are 6-8 mm long and usually with small hairs. The corolla is irregular, with 5 violet to red violet petals that are 10-20 mm long. The lower petals are white at the base with dark violet veins, with a beard (tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. Additionally, there are cleistogamous flowers (small flowers that don’t open) on erect to prostrate peduncles. The fruit is a smooth yellow green capsule 8-12 mm long. Prairie violet blooms from April to June in prairies and open woodlands in all but the central region of South Dakota.

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  Violaceae : Viola pubescens

  R. Neil Reese

  Viola pubescens is a caulescent perennial herb growing from an erect to horizontal rhizome, with 1-several erect to decumbent stems growing 10 to 40 cm in length and covered with a few to many spreading hairs. The leaves are alternate on the upper portion of the stem, broadly heart-shaped, blunt to rounded at the tip, 4-10 cm long and about as wide or wider. The surfaces are smooth to hairy, the margins have rounded teeth fringed with short hairs. The petioles can be shorter to longer than the blades, hairy with leafy stipules. Solitary flowers develop in the axils of leaves, with a peduncle that is shorter to longer than the leaf. The 5 green sepals are 6-10 mm long, pointed and with narrow white margins. The corolla is irregular, with 5 yellow petals that are 8-12 mm long. The lower petals have darker, purplish brown veins, the lower most swollen, the lateral pair of petals with a beard (tufts of hairs), and the upper 2 petals are usually hairless. Additionally, there are cleistogamous flowers (small flowers that don’t open) that develop in the upper axils. The fruit is a tan to brown ovoid capsule 8-12 mm long, wooly to sparsely hairy. Downy yellow violet blooms from March to June in woodlands, along streambanks and in thickets along the eastern and western borders of South Dakota.