It's not a johnny jump up but it's growing wild deep in my woods. Does anyone know the species?

There's a key, each species has a description .. it does mention Viola rafinesquii as a similar species to V. tricolor, that looks right!

http://www.biosurvey.ou.edu/ok...

http://americanvioletsociety.o...

http://americanvioletsociety.o...

Here's a description ..

http://www.vplants.org/plants/...

More photos showing leaves ..

http://www.inhs.uiuc.edu/anima...

Well, according to that I have V. tricolor...

That's what I thought Dave, until I saw the mention of Viola rafinesquii as a similar species, it's not in the keys. The top petals don't look quite right. Read the description, it says it's not native and was introduced from further south..

Viola rafinesquii is probably most similar to the also small-flowered V. arvensis, but that species has sepals that are longer than the lateral petals, and the flower is pale cream. Also similar is V. tricolor, but that species has longer flowers (over 1.5 cm), and the upper pair of petals are dark blue or purple from the middle to the tips.

http://www.vplants.org/plants/...

The foliage on mine is also very different from V. rafinesquii.

If you know what wintergreen smells like you could try bruising the roots..

Notes:The bruised roots of V. rafinesquii have a smell of wintergreen. This Eurasian species was introduced from further south in the United States. It has also been known by the name Viola bicolor.

Description of leaves..

Leaves alternate to almost opposite, stalked, hairy or almost hairless, shallowly round-toothed, and small (0.5 - 2.5 cm long). All the leaves have tapering bases, but otherwise are variable in shape with the lowest leaves being rounded, while the upper leaves are more narrow oblong to spoon-shaped, and often non-toothed. Stipules large, almost leafy, deeply lobed near base into many slender segments and one large terminal segment .

Could be a natural cross between species?

Just a wild guess because I'm having vision trouble today. How about Collinsia violacea? http://www.google.com/search?q...

Nope Lin, it's definitely a Viola. ;)

I'll go bruise the roots and see what they smell like.

I think your flower is a Field Pansy, Viola bicolor. I have the same. I just added a picture to the database, so hope I'm right.

http://uswildflowers.com/detai...

Well, I say that but now I'm not sure... After reading this site, I'm a little confused, bicolor or tricolor?

http://uswildflowers.com/detai...

It looks like my images were approved as Viola bicolor.

Field Pansy (Viola bicolor)