Note that V. riviniana and V. reichenbachiana have a rosette of lvs, the other dog violets do not
Note that there are a number of other rare spp, e.g. V. rupestris (Teesdale violet) with hairy leaves and is rare on limestone in N En and V. hirta (Hairy violet) with hairy lvs and blue-violet fls
Usually yellow/cream (c.f. V. tricolor which is larger and usually has some blue or purple), sepals as long as petals
Viola canina . . . Heath dog violet
V. canina has bluish flowers and yellowish spur; widely distributed
See also V. lactea.
Viola cornuta . . . Horned violet
An alien scattered uncommonly esp. in NE Sc
Viola kitaibeliana . . . Dwarf pansy
A tiny plant with flowers often much <5 mm; very local in short turf by the sea Scillies and CI
Viola lactea . . . Pale dog violet
V. lactea is a local sp on dry heaths S & W from Anglesea to the New Forest and scattered in Ire; short pale spur and stipule of upper lf longer than petiole
Viola lutea . . . Mountain pansy
Can vary from yellow to purple; stipules at base of lf stalk like lobed lvs; Quite frequent on base-rich mountains
Viola odora . . . Sweet violet
Flowers early, with large leaves
Viola palustris . . . Marsh violet
Bogs, marshes and wet heaths, also on mountains in Ire and W & N of Br
Viola reichenbachiana . . . Early or wood dog violet
Straight unnotched spur darker than petals; woods and hedges; common in S Br and Ire but almost absent from Sc see also under Viola riviniana below
Viola riviniana . . . Common dog violet
Very common over all BI; Note that V. riviniana (common dog violet) has overlapping petals and curved, creamy spur, notched at tip vs. straight, dark unnotched spur in V. reichenbachiana (wood dog violet)