Viola pedatifida – Prairie Violet

This inhabitant of moist prairies and savannas in midwestern North America has attractive lobed and dissected leaves and violet-blue flowers. The resemblance of the divided leaves to delphinium gives the plant another common name – Larkspur Violet. Note the fine lines of purple at the base of the lower center petal – these function as nectar guides to visiting insects. The caterpillars of various Fritillary butterflies feed on this and other violets, including Great Spangled Fritillary, Aphrodite Fritillary, and Silver-Bordered Fritillary.