Viola stiata is a perennial herb, stems clustered from a short rhizome, to 30 cm at flowering, growing to 60 cm later, branching; stipules large, to 2.5 cm long, lance-shaped, conspicuously fringe-toothed.
Leaves alternate, basal leaves rounded, to broadly heart-shaped, dying early in season, upper leaves heart to egg-shaped, to 7 cm long, tip pointed, margin blunt-toothed.
Flowers cream-white with purplish veins, side petals bearded, bilaterally symmetrical..
Fruit capsules to 0.6 cm, seeds brown to 0.26 cm; blooms April-June.
Wetland status: FACW.
Frequency in NYC: Very infrequent.
Origin: Native.
Habitat: Moist to wet open habitats or light shade, along streams or ditches, often in calcareous soil, can be weedy.