Viola maviensis is a dwarf subshrub characterized by its nearly erect to ascending stems, which are 30–80 cm long. The stems feature short leafy internodes interspersed with longer rhizomatous internodes, and they may be unbranched or branched from near the base. Occasionally, the plant produces slender, short, stolon-like innovations, and the stems are glabrous. It is rhizomatous, with its roots forming a dense network. The leaves are simple, alternate, and clustered on the short, exposed portions of the stem. They are soft-coriaceous and range in shape from broadly ovate to ovate-suborbicular or rarely subcordate, measuring 1.5–9 cm long and 1–2(–2.8) cm wide. The apex of the leaves is obtuse to acuminate bluntly, and the base is broadly cuneate or rarely subtruncate. The leaf surfaces are glabrous, and the margins are callose-serrate with slightly incurved teeth. The petioles are as long as or longer than the blades, and the stipules are thin, delicate-ovate to ovate, with fimbriate margins. The flowers are axillary, fragrant, and predominantly chasmogamous (plant reproduction in which the flowers open up, enabling cross-pollination), appearing in groups of (1)2(–5) per peduncle. The peduncles and pedicels are relatively long, and the calyx consists of 5 subequal, narrowly deltate-lanceolate sepals. The corolla is zygomorphic, composed of 5 distinct, unequal petals: dark violet with paler tinges to pale blue or rarely nearly white. The stamens are about 3.5–4 mm long, with the connective of the lower ones forming a rhombic structure. It produces capsules as fruit, which are 9–12 mm long and demonstrate loculicidal dehiscence. The seeds within these capsules are numerous and obovoid, and they have a somewhat leathery, dull seed coat with a rounded apex and a fleshy, oily endosperm. It typically inhabits open bogs or occasionally bog margins between 1,220-2,010 meters.