Taxonomic history:
1753: Linnaeus described this species as Viola palmata in Species Plantarum, 1st ed., p. 933 of Ray Society 1957 facsimile.
Today: The current name for this species is Viola palmata L.
original Latin diagnosis
Viola acaulis, foliis palmatis quinquelobis dentatis indivisque.
English translation
Viola stemless; with leaf blades palmate, five-lobed, dentate, and undivided.
| Viola | Viola |
| stemless; | acaulis - nominative singular feminine of group B adjective acaulis, acaulis, acaule; modifies Viola |
| with leaf blades | foliis - ablative plural of second declension neuter noun folium, -i |
| palmate, | palmatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective palmatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| five-lobed, | quinquelobis - ablative plural meuter of group A adjective quinquelobus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| dentate, | dentatis - ablative plural neuter of group A adjective dentatus, -a, -um; modifies foliis |
| and undivided. | indivisque = indivisis (ablative plural neuter of group A adjective indivisus, -a, -um) + -que (and); modifies foliis |