{{short description|Species of flowering plant in the family Violaceae}} {{redirect|Yellow pansy|the species of butterfly|Junonia hierta}} {{speciesbox |image = Yellowpansy.jpg |status = G5 |status_system = TNC |status_ref = <ref name=NatureServe>{{Cite NatureServe|date=6 December 2024|id=2.132841|title=''Viola pedunculata'' | NatureServe Explorer|access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref> |genus = Viola (plant) |species = pedunculata |authority = Torr. & A. Gray |synonyms_ref = <ref name=POWO>{{Cite POWO|id=868923-1|title=''Viola pedunculata'' Torr. & A.Gray | Plants of the World Online | Kew Science|access-date=23 December 2024}}</ref> |synonyms = *''Viola pedunculata'' subsp. ''typica'' {{Small|M.S.Baker & J.C.Clausen}} *''Viola pedunculata'' var. ''tenuifolia'' {{Small|(M.S.Baker & J.C.Clausen) J.T.Howell}} *''Viola pedunculata'' subsp. ''tenuifolia'' {{Small|M.S.Baker & J.C.Clausen}} }}
'''''Viola pedunculata''''', the '''California golden violet''', '''Johnny jump up''', or '''yellow pansy''', is a perennial yellow wildflower of the coast and coastal ranges in California and northwestern Baja California.<ref name="grin">{{GRIN | access-date=2013-03-23}}</ref> However, the common name "Johnny jump up" is usually associated with ''Viola tricolor'', an introduced garden annual.
The plant grows on open, grassy slopes, in chaparral habitats, and in oak woodlands, from sea level to around {{convert| 3280|ft|m}}. It prefers part shade, but will tolerate sun in many locations.
==Description== ''Viola pedunculata'' is a perennial, growing from a spongy rhizome. The plant is often low-growing, but can reach a height of {{convert|6|in|cm}}.
The leaves are {{convert|1|–|5.5|cm}} long, cordate (heart-shaped) to deltate-ovate (oblong-triangular), scalloped or toothed, and glabrous or hairy.<ref>[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Viola+pedunculata Jepson: ''Viola pedunculata''] . accessed 3.23.2013</ref> They are summer deciduous.
The fragrant flowers appear in March and April, and are a rich, saturated yellow to yellow-orange, with brown-purple nectar guides on the lower petals. The flowers are hermaphrodite, and are pollinated by native and introduced insects. Dried in air, the seeds weigh about {{convert|4|mg|oz}} each.
'''Subspecies''' *''Viola pedunculata'' ssp. ''pedunculata'' <ref>[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Viola+pedunculata+ssp.+pedunculata CalFlora: ''Viola pedunculata'' ssp. ''pedunculata'']</ref> *''Viola pedunculata'' ssp. ''tenuifolia'' <ref>[https://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=VIPET USDA: ''Viola pedunculata'' ssp. ''tenuifolia'']</ref>
==Uses== ===Culinary=== The leaves were used by the Diegueno and Luiseno indigenous people of California for food: The young leaves were picked before the flowers appeared in the spring, then boiled, and used as greens.<ref>[http://herb.umd.umich.edu/herb/search.pl?searchstring=Viola%20pedunculata&searchlimit=100 Univ. of Michigan: Dearborn — Ethnobotany treatment] . accessed 3.23.2013</ref>
The flower buds and petals are edible. As with other yellow flowers in the genus ''Viola'', large quantities may cause diarrhea.<br />An herbal tea or tisane can be brewed from the leaves.
==Cultivation== The plant is cultivated as an ornamental plant by specialty plant nurseries, for planting as a drought tolerant seasonal groundcover or flowering accent plant in native plant and wildlife gardens; and as a potted plant.<ref name="lasp">[http://www.laspilitas.com/nature-of-california/plants/viola-pedunculata Las Pilitas horticultural database: ''Viola pedunculata''] — (Violet, Yellow Pansy, Johnny jump up, California Golden Violet, and Wild Pansy) . accessed 3.23.2013</ref><ref>[http://www.wildflower.org/plants/result.php?id_plant=VIPE3 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Database (NPIN)]</ref>
They are propagated by seed or nursery/garden divisions.<ref>[http://www.cnplx.info/nplx/species?taxon=Viola+pedunculata CNPLX: Viola pedunculata - Nursery and Seed Sources] . accessed 3.23.2013</ref> The plant prefers rich soil, and no irrigation water in summer, when it is dormant.<ref name="lasp"/>
When cultivated in colder climates outside its native range where not so hardy, it is most successful when propagated in a cold frame.
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== {{Commons category|Viola pedunculata}} *[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-calrecnum=8300 CalFlora Database: ''Viola pedunculata'' (California golden violet)] *[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?Viola+pedunculata Jepson Manual treatment for ''Viola pedunculata''] *[http://www.ibiblio.org/pfaf/cgi-bin/arr_html?Viola+pedunculata Species entry in Plants for a Future] *{{CalPhotos|Viola|pedunculata}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q4013802}}
pedunculata Category:Flora of California Category:Flora of Baja California Category:Natural history of the California chaparral and woodlands Category:Natural history of the California Coast Ranges Category:Natural history of the Channel Islands of California Category:Natural history of the Peninsular Ranges Category:Natural history of the San Francisco Bay Area Category:Natural history of the Santa Monica Mountains Category:Natural history of the Transverse Ranges Category:Indigenous peoples of California topics Category:Plants used in Native American cuisine Category:Garden plants of North America