Although combined with sororia in some treatments (e.g. Cr, McKinney 1992, J), this taxon has often been considered a largely distinct species typical of eastern North America, usually on fertile submesic soils in floodplain woods or eutrophic uplands, mowed open areas, yards, and other disturbed sites (Robinson & Fernald 1908; D, Br, F, Gl, St). In the central Bluegrass, Short (1828-9) misapplied the name cucullata to these plants: "This is with us the most abundant of the violets, as well as the first to bloom; the whole surface of moist meadows and pastures being covered with them in the fore part of April." Brainerd, F and some other 20th Century authors applied the name V. papilionacea Pursh to this species, but the type for that name (at Kew) belongs with affinis (H. Ballard, pers. comm.). Other names that have been used, at least for transitions to other species, include V. latiuscula Greene in northeastern region (F) and V. pratincola Greene in midwestern regions (e.g. Correll & Johnston 1970; Mohlenbrock 1988). V. communis is close to sororia and affinis, and all three could be treated as as intergrading segregates of sororia. Also, some plants appear hybridized with missouriensis, cucullata or other related species (Gil-ad 1997, 1998). V. communis differs from sororia in its generally paler, broader, glossier and largely glabrous leaves (except sometimes for hairs on petioles and blade bases). Following H. Ballard (in prep.): calices are eciliate (versus often ciliate); lowest sepals are usually lanceolate to ovate-triangular, acuminate (versus narrowly oblong-ovate to ovate, obtuse to rounded); auricles are prominent to elongate (versus short, not elongating). Cleistogenes are on curved or coiled peduncles gradually elongating to become upright and sinuous-straight but usually shorter than petioles (versus arching just before dehiscence, much shorter than petioles); capsules tend to be smaller (8-12 mm long versus 6-11 mm); seeds are brownish-black to blackish, unspotted or with minute raised black punctae (versus dark gray to grayish-brown with faint to prominent rectangular darker blotches).