1904] Brainerd, — Notes on New England Violets 1 1 



capsules — differences in shape, size, color, in form of sepals and of 

 auricles — that I believe specific distinctions in the acaulescent 

 violets can be most satisfactorily based. These characters prove to 

 be fairly constant ; they seem to have no " biological importance," 

 and so are not subject to "adaptive changes," and have, therefore (to 

 use Dr. Gray's terms once more), "high classificatory value." 



That the importance of these characters has hitherto escaped atten- 

 tion seems strange ; but it may be accounted for by two facts. First, 

 the plants are most attractive when in vernal flowering ; if fruit and 

 mature leaves are wanted, most collectors have been satisfied to collect 

 the plants a month later, before they are injured by the drought and 

 insects of summer but before the apetalous capsules are mature. 

 Secondly, the capsules of the apetalous flowers, even when but half- 

 grown, split open on drying, and the sepals shrivel, so that their 

 characters in ordinary herbarium specimens are greatly obscured. 



I present herewith a synopsis of the New England species of 

 acaulescent, non-stoloniferous violets, with the omission of Viola 

 pedata, which, since it has beardless petals and a peculiar style. Dr. 

 Gray has placed in a group by itself. 



Apetalous flowers subulate; their mature capsules bright green, oblong, 

 acute, 5-15 mm. long; sepals on mature capsules lanceolate, nearly as 

 long as the capsules; with straight auricles 2-5 mm. long. (PI. ^o, 

 fig. I.) 



1. V. cucULLATA, Ait. Plant Usually glabrous ; leaves broadly 

 cordate-ovate; petaliferous flowers blue varying to white, often 

 with a darker blue center ; peduncles longer than the leaves ; — 

 springs, cold brooks and bogs, and moist soil of mountains. 



Apetalous flowers ovoid-acuminate ; their mature capsules purple, sub- 

 globose, mostly obtuse, 4-8 mm. long ; sepals on mature capsules one 

 half as long as the capsules, with short appressed glabrous auricles. 

 (PI. 50, fig. 2.) 



2. V. VEXusTULA, Greene. Plants small, glabrous throughout ; 

 leaves ovate-aciuninate, 2-5 cm. wide; petals blue ; peduncles 

 about as. long as the leaves ; — moist, mucky borders of streams, 

 marshes and lakes. 



Apetalous flowers ovoid-acuininate ; their mature capsules pale green, 

 or more or less speckled with purple, oblong, acute or acutish, 8-15 mm. 

 long; sepals one quarter to one third as long as the capsule, with short 

 appressed commonlv hispidulous auricles. (PI. 50, fig. 3^4.) 

 * Leaves never lobed, broadly o\ate or reniform, 4-12 cm. wide. 

 t Plants essentially glabrous; petals violet. 



3. V. LATiusci'LA, Greene. Leaf-outline above the cordate 

 base approximately deltoid, earliest leaves purplish on the under 

 surface, petioles puberulent or slightly pubescent; — dry copses 

 in sandv or sterile soil. 



