Downy Yellow Violet is a native woodland violet with bright yellow flowers that blooms in May in rich hardwood forests. All violets are the exclusive larval host plants for all fritillary butterfly species in North America, making the genus extraordinarily important for conservation. The seeds are dispersed by ants via elaiosomes.
Habitat
Rich deciduous forest understory and shaded slopes across eastern North America
Diet
Exclusive larval host plant for all fritillary butterfly species; seeds dispersed by ants
How common
Common
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