Viola palustris Marsh Violet

A distinctive violet with pale lilac flowers and relatively large, rounded, kidney-shaped leaves. It always grows in wet places that are at least slightly acidic, but often flushed, such as bogs, wet heathland and ditches. It is moderately shade tolerant and will grow in wet flushes in woodland. It is common in Britain, except for much of the south and southeast of England, but it has been lost from many sites as a result of agricultural improvements. It is found throughout Wales and it is widespread in West Glamorgan. There are two subspecies, ssp. palustris which is common in West Glamorgan and ssp. juressi, which is rare and distinguished by its hairy leaf stalks. The occurrence and status of ssp. juressi in West Glamorgan is not clear.

Native