Viola bicolor, also known as Johnny Jump-up, American Field Pansy or Wild Pansy. Native to the Carolinas and Georgia, these tiny lovelies have popped up all over the front and backyards. More info on them here - http://namethatplant.net/plantdetail.shtml?plant=1656
@marlboromaam Here's what he said:
“About the two violets, your question is a good one because I think these two species are closely related. In the key provided in Flora North America — http://dev.floranorthamerica.org/Viola — they come out next to each other in couplet 36:
“Note that V. tricolor is called Johnny-jump-up, Wild Pansy and just Pansy. This is confusing because V. bicolor (synonyms V. rafinesquei, V. kitaibeliana and kit. var. rafinesquei) is also called Johnny-jump-up, at least in Mohlenbrock. On the FNA web site, the common names for V. bicolor are Wild Pansy or Field Pansy.”
@rhoing Dr. Hill with the SCNP says it's the bicolor. Yes they both have the same common names on the namethatplant site. I guess that can be confusing. But the pics on the site show a definite difference in the colors. I have never seen the tricolor growing in my yard, only the bicolor and this was the first year I've found them. Interestingly, I've found two different varieties of Venus' Looking Glass growing in my yard this year when in the past - I only found the one. I'm no expert, but I do compare their photos to mine along with the descriptions and if that's not enough for me to make a good guess, I search the other sites, and if that doesn't help me pin it down - I email Dr. Hill with the South Carolina Native Plant Society (SCNP) and attach my pics. Sometimes, he even replies that it's his best guess. LOL! He has a lot of input into the namethatplant site. It's a healthy learning experience for me. Someday, I'll do a PDF file of all the wild plants, lichens, etc. that I've found growing on my little patch in the midlands of South Carolina. Not that it would mean much to anyone but me and maybe a few people who live here. =)
May 16th, 2021
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“About the two violets, your question is a good one because I think these two species are closely related. In the key provided in Flora North America — http://dev.floranorthamerica.org/Viola — they come out next to each other in couplet 36:
“36. Sepal auricles 0.5–2 mm; style head bearded; cleistogamous flowers axillary. Viola bicolor
“36. Sepal auricles 2–4 mm; style head beardless; cleistogamous flowers absent. Viola tricolor
“Note that V. tricolor is called Johnny-jump-up, Wild Pansy and just Pansy. This is confusing because V. bicolor (synonyms V. rafinesquei, V. kitaibeliana and kit. var. rafinesquei) is also called Johnny-jump-up, at least in Mohlenbrock. On the FNA web site, the common names for V. bicolor are Wild Pansy or Field Pansy.”