Description: Low herbaceous perennial with 1 - 8 stems, partially underground. Leaves thick with short dense white hairs, ashy above and purplish beneath, broadly ovate to narrower, blades 8 - 25 mm (to 1.0 in.) long. Inflorescence single stalk with solitary flower. Flower sepals 5, linear to spade shaped. Petals 5, unequal, yellow on the face; upper petals darkened on the back; lower petal with a short spur. Fruit a capsule, densely hairy, opening explosively and shooting seeds. Time of flowering: May to June.
Habitat: Mixed conifer forest and pinyon-juniper communities. Limestone hills, slopes, and dry washes. Elevations: 2,000 - 2,900 m (6,560 - 9,510 ft).
Range: Mojave Desert and Colorado Plateau endemic. In Clark County, Nevada, known to occur in the Spring Mountains in Lee Canyon, Kyle Canyon, Deer Creek, and Mud Springs.
Comment: The name Charleston violet is more commonly used. This species is the only yellow violet in the area.