Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Veins longer and more complex thatn those of Early Dog-Violet and the flowers of the latter are paler and more mauve-coloured usually, but not always! But the main ID feature: the pale spur (see later images).

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (02/05/2022) Woods Mill Nature Reserve, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. Veins longer and more complex thatn those of Early Dog-Violet and the flowers of the latter are paler and more mauve-coloured usually, but not always! But the main ID feature: the pale spur (see later images).

Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W. Sussex (garden). Common and Early Dog-Violet can often be found together, so you need to look at the spur colour for correct ID: pale spur = Common Dog, darker spur = Early Dog - that simple!

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (22/03/2022) Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W. Sussex (garden). Common and Early Dog-Violet can often be found together, so you need to look at the spur colour for correct ID: pale spur = Common Dog, darker spur = Early Dog - that simple!

Tottington Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. This is the main ID feature: the pale spur - paler than the petals. Early Dog-Violet instead has them darker than the petals. Same design of sepals as Early Dog although some sources say that Common-Dog has longer sepals than Early Dog.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (02/04/2022) Tottington Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex. This is the main ID feature: the pale spur - paler than the petals. Early Dog-Violet instead has them darker than the petals. Same design of sepals as Early Dog although some sources say that Common-Dog has longer sepals than Early Dog.

Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W. Sussex (garden). They can sometimes have a teeny hint of pink.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (22/03/2022) Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W. Sussex (garden). They can sometimes have a teeny hint of pink.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (05/05/2021) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield, W Sussex.

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. This specimen is darker than the ones we usually get around here, but I believe it is Common Dog given the comments against the next few images in this sequence..

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. This specimen is darker than the ones we usually get around here, but I believe it is Common Dog given the comments against the next few images in this sequence..

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Has overlapping and broad petals. A flower from the previous specimen - unusually strongly-marked. It is still Common-Dog though because see later re the spur. It's not Sweet Violet because those have totally different (blunt ended) sepals, not pointed ones like the Dog-Violets.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Has overlapping and broad petals. A flower from the previous specimen - unusually strongly-marked. It is still Common-Dog though because see later re the spur. It's not Sweet Violet because those have totally different (blunt ended) sepals, not pointed ones like the Dog-Violets.

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Initially thought the specimen from the previous (and next few) images was Early Dog-Violet - because of the spur being near the colour of the petals. It is supposed to be pale in Common Dog -Violet. However, the markings on the petals of this specimen are much bolder and divided compared with Early Dog Violet and the spur is nevertheless paler than the petals, so I conclude this specimen is Common-Dog Violet.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Initially thought the specimen from the previous (and next few) images was Early Dog-Violet - because of the spur being near the colour of the petals. It is supposed to be pale in Common Dog -Violet. However, the markings on the petals of this specimen are much bolder and divided compared with Early Dog Violet and the spur is nevertheless paler than the petals, so I conclude this specimen is Common-Dog Violet.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. The orange ovary with podgy style and stigma atop.

Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Stigma with its frondy bits to catch pollen and entrance to flower frondy as well - in order to brush pollen off insects.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield. Stigma with its frondy bits to catch pollen and entrance to flower frondy as well - in order to brush pollen off insects.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (22/03/2022) Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W. Sussex (garden). Classic leaf shape.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (22/03/2022) Southbank Barn, New Hall Lane, Small Dole, Henfield, W. Sussex (garden). Underside showing veins.

Common Dog-Violet (Viola riviniana) (30/03/2024) Horton Wood, Small Dole, Henfield.