Flower:

A single, slightly irregular 5-petaled flower about ¾-inch across on a hairless, leafless stem. Petals are purple to blue-violet; the 3 lower petals are white near the base, the 2 side petals have a tuft of white hairs (“beard”) and the middle has darker purple lines. One to several flower stems may arise from one plant.

Leaves:

Leaves are basal, 1 to 3 inches long and wide on stems to 6 inches long, deeply lobed palmate-fashion into narrow segments, the lobes often further divided. They may be hairy or hairless.

The leaves often do not fully develop until after the flowering period is done and may be more shallowly lobed or just a tuft close to the ground when the flowers bloom.

Notes:

Prairie Violet is easily confused for Birdfoot Violet (Viola pedata). The easiest way to tell them apart is whether or not the flowers are bearded. Birdfoot Violet is beardless and has larger flowers, up to 1½ inches across. Prairie Violet often goes by synonym Viola pedatifida, but the accepted name in Minnesota is Viola palmata var. pedatifida.