Cubelium concolor
Cubelium concolor eastern green-violet
Synonyms:
Hybanthus concolor
Add to MyPlants View Locations
Cubelium concolor, commonly known as eastern green-violet, is a herbaceous perennial wildflower native to Eastern North America ranging from Ontario to Florida and Vermont to Oklahoma. Most violets are purple, white, or yellow, but green-violet's flowers are greenish much as its foliage — the reason it is called “concolor,” meaning “same color.” Its inconspicuous, tiny, drooping ¼‑inch green flowers tend to blend with the foliage, making it the most unusual violet in the country.
Considered rare in many states, eastern green-violet is vulnerable to habitat loss, deer browse, and competition from invasive understory plants. In Pennsylvania’s rich mesic forests, it is easily displaced by disturbance and incompatible human uses, and without careful habitat protection, local populations often decline.
The plants that persist today are found in rich deciduous forests and woodlands, occasionally on rocky slopes where moisture and humus accumulate. They prefer dappled sunlight and rich, slightly acidic soil. Growing 1½ to 3 feet tall, the species has slightly hairy, unbranched stems with large, lance‑elliptic, alternate leaves up to 6 inches long. The foliage is sometimes mistaken for that of stickseeds. Dainty, drooping green or greenish-white flowers appear singly or in clusters of two or three in the axils of each leaf from late April through June, followed by small oval fruit capsules that help distinguish eastern green-violet when the flowers are hard to see.
Little has been recorded about the floral‑faunal relationships of eastern green-violet. Generalist herbivores such as stink bugs may feed on the foliage, and small native bees visit the tiny green flowers for nectar. White‑tailed deer frequently browse the tops of the plants, contributing to population decline. After flowering, the capsules split to release seeds equipped with lipid‑rich elaiosomes that attract ants. The ants carry the seeds back to their nests, consume the elaiosomes, and leave the seeds to germinate in new locations which is a classic ant‑dispersal strategy.
Habitat & Range
Frequent in nutrient-rich mesic or alluvial woods. Prefers part sun to medium shade with moist, rich loamy soil.
Mostly found in the south of the state. See distirbution map at BONAP.
Range: Native to eastern North America, Hybanthus concolor ranges from Ontario to Florida and from Vermont to Oklahoma.
| EMP: | FACU |
|---|---|
| NCNE: | FACU |
Phenology
Flowers late April through June. Bloom duration is 2 to 3 weeks.
Characteristics
Inflorescence flowers arise singly or less often in clusters of 2 or 3 from leaf axils; their close spacing sometimes gives visual impression of a bigger cluster
Flowers tiny, light green, nodding; corolla with 5 sepals, 5 unequal petals, 5 stamens, 1 pistil; lower sepal forms a small drooping lip
Leaves alternate, elliptic to lance-elliptic, medium to dark green, smooth or slightly pubescent; margins entire, can have serrations near tip; tapers to pointed tip; 6″ long, 1.5″ wide
Stems erect, unbranched, slightly angled; smooth to slightly hairy; arise singly or in loose clumps from rhizomes
Rhizome thick, shallow, short-creeping
Fruit light green, ovoid, hairless capsule; seeds black, numerous, with pale elaiosome
Height 1.5 to 3 feet
Plant Codes
S-rank: No rank
G-rank: G5 (Secure)
Ecology
Pollination of eastern green-violet is poorly documented, but the tiny green flowers are visited by small native bees that take nectar from the drooping blooms.
Generalist herbivores such as stink bugs may feed on the foliage, and white‑tailed deer frequently browse the tops of the plants. After flowering, the capsules split to release seeds equipped with lipid‑rich elaiosomes that attract ants, which carry the seeds to their nests, consume the elaiosomes, and leave the seeds to germinate elsewhere.
In rich mesic forests, eastern green-violet contributes to understory diversity, supports native pollinators, and participates in the myrmecochory network that helps maintain plant distribution and regeneration across the forest floor.
APG/Taxonomization Info
Recently reclassified from Hybanthus concolor to Cubelium concolor.
Cubelium concolor eastern green-violet
Add to MyPlants View Locations
Comments
Have you spotted this plant in your area? We'd love to hear about your experience! Share your comments or questions about the plant below. Comments are moderated before posting.