12 Rhodora [Jani ary 



4. V. PAPiLioNACEA, Piirsli. Leaf-oiit line above the cordate 

 base broadly orbicular, earliest leaves green on the under sur- 

 face, petioles usuallv glabrous ; — rich moist soil, often in yards 

 and cultivated ground. 



t t Plants more or less villous-pubescent ; petals iiglit blue or 

 lavender. 



5. V. soKoRiA, Willd. Moist rich woodlands, shadv ledges, 

 meadows and pastures. 



* * Some or all of the leaves palmately divided or lobed. 



t Plants more or less villous-pubescent ; petals light blue. 



6. ^^ i'ALMAT.\, L. Dry open woods and ledges. 

 t t Plants nearly or quite glabrous ; petals bright blue. 



7. V. SKi'TEAiLOHA, LeCoutc. Sandy soil near the coast. 



D. Apetalous flowers sagittate on horizontal or deflexed peduncles ; their 

 mature capsules purple, subglobose, 4-6 mm. long ; sepals somewhat 

 obtuse and ciliolate, with long divergent auricles. (PI. 50, tig. 5.) 



8. V. .SEi'TKNTRioNALis, CJroone. Plants pubescent or sub- 

 glabrous; earliest leaves iiur^ilish on the lower surface; mature 

 leaves ciliate, broadly o\ate, 3-7 cm. wide; petioles slender, 

 wiry, often purple at base; petals violet, with sepals closeiv 

 ciliolate nearly to the tip ; — dry or moist copses. 



E. Apetalous flowers sagittate on erect peduncles ; their mature capsules 

 green, ovoid or oblong, 6-14 mm. long; sepals lanceolate with long his- 

 piduious auricles. (PI. 50, tig. 6.) 



* r.,eaves pubescent, ovate-oblong, petioles usually shorter than the 

 blades; petals violet-purple. 



9. \'. KiMHKiATi LA, J. K. Smith. Dry soil. 



* * Leaves nearly glabrous, lanceolate, basal lobes spreading toothed or 



incised, petioles usually longer than the blades; petals deep violet. 



10. y. .sAciTTATA, Ait. Wet meadows and marshes. 



I subjoin a few comments on each of these ten species. 



I. Fu)/a CHculIata, Ait., is beautifully distinct. Prof. Greene was 

 the first to call attention to its distinctness in Dec. 1896. (Pittonia, 

 iii. 143 »& 336.) There is, however, still some uncertainty as to 

 whether this was the plant that Alton had before him when he gave 

 the name in 1789. Prof. Greene now regards the group as separ- 

 able mto about ten species, and names much of the Vermont material 

 V. prionosepala. 



The specific name — ciicuUata — is not especially appropriate 

 except to plants that grow in open bogs ; those that grow in the 

 shade have leaves as widely spread as those of any other species. 

 All violet leaves are involute in the bud. When expanding they 

 have the shape of a monk's hood, the basal lobes being rolled in 

 so as to touch each other ; and when full grown, if evaporation is 

 excessive, they all tend to revert to this natal condition. If a violet 

 specimen is not soon put in press after it is collected, the basal lobes 



