The Mountain Violet produces two kinds of flowers. In early spring, the open flowers are colorful and eye-catching as is pictured here. In normally expanded flowers pollen is transported from one flower to another by flying insects and seeds are formed as a result of cross pollination. Late in the flowering season Mountain Violet produces cleistogamous flowers that remain closed. These closed flowers, which are often hidden among the foliage, are self-pollinated and set abundant viable seeds. Regardless of the mechanism of seed production, the fleshy seed appendages of violets are attractive to ants that in turn disperse and plant the seeds.
DISTRIBUTION: Sandy to rocky soil (including serpentine) in dry coniferous forest up to timberline from NW Calif. to the Cascade Ranges south to the N & C High Sierra Nevada; 1200-2700 m.
