Pale or Cream Violet
Viola striata
From Nearctica
Identification: Leaves and flowers located on the same stalk. Flowers white with lateral petals and lower petal with black lines and without yellow at the base or purple on the backside. Large, heavily toothed stipules present at the junction of the stem and the flower and leaf stalks. Stem smooth, green.
Distribution: Wisconsin in the west to southern New England in the east, southward to Georgia and Oklahoma.
Habitat: Cream Violet is typically found in low, wet woods and alongside streams and rivers.
Flowering period: April to June.
Similar Species: Cream Violet is most likely to be confused with Canada Violet. Canada Violet has yellow at the bases of the flower petals and a purple tinge on the back side. Stipules are present, but small and not heavily toothed. The stem is tinged with purple and is not smooth green.