Viola cucullata, the hooded blue violet, marsh blue violet or purple violet, is a species of the genus Viola native to eastern North America, from Newfoundland west to Ontario and Minnesota, and south to Georgia. It is a recipient of the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit.[1]
The purple violet is a low-growing perennial herbaceous plant up to tall. The leaves form a basal cluster; they are simple, up to broad, with an entire margin and a long petiole. The flowers are violet, dark blue and occasionally white. with five petals. The fruit is a capsule long, which splits into three sections at maturity to release the numerous small seeds.[2] Its habitats include wet meadows, prairies, and fields.[3]
The purple violet is the provincial flower of New Brunswick.[4]
The purple violet is the official flower of the sorority Sigma Sigma Sigma.[5]
The purple violet is also one of the official flowers of the Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity.