Flower:

Solitary irregular flower at the end of a naked stem that typically rises well above the leaves. Flowers are about ¾ inch across, 5 petals deep violet to light blue, white at the base, the lateral petals with long white hairs at the base (bearded), but not usually densely hairy. The lower petal has deep blue-violet lines near the base, is hairless or has a few sparse hairs and forms a short spur at the back. The side petals thrust forward at an angle.

Leaves and stems:

Leaves are all basal, hairless, have rounded teeth around the edges (crenate), kidney to heart-shaped with a rounded or blunt tip, held erect on slender hairless stems 1 to 6 inches long. Younger leaves are rarely more than 1½ inches long or wide. Mature leaves can be up 4 inches wide.

Notes:

A more common species in cooler elevations of western North America, Northern Bog Violet's range extends all the way to New England. Several references note it having a preference for cold wet habitats such as bogs. But Minnesota herbarium collections are common from all over western Minnesota moist prairie, such as where our images were found. Similar species is V. cucullata, which is distinguished from all other violets by its short club-shaped hairs on the lateral petals.