108 Rhodora. [JUNE 
Muhlenbergii, that “imitates the European V. arenaria.” In the 
Gray Manual the plant is first recognized in 1890, by Dr. Watson, 
under the name V. canina var. puberula, “sandy or stony shores and 
islands of Lakes Huron and Superior." Six years later, in the Synop- 
tical Flora, the range of this variety is extended across the continent, 
from Maine to Washington and Oregon. 
This wide stretch of range is not uncommon among our northern 
plants, and a thorough study of the abundant material in five of our 
largest herbaria,! affords emphatic confirmation of Dr. Robinson’s 
statement in the Synoptical Flora. The specimens vary considerably 
in size, in the amount of pubescence, and in the presence of flowers 
with hooked spurs; but not more so in the western plants than in the 
eastern. 
Now, the plant of the Pacific coast is evidently what Sir J. E. 
Smith published in 1817 as Viola adunca.2 But Dr. Gray conceived 
Smith’s species to be “nearly glabrous,” and subsequent authors 
have simply echoed his statement*; but the author of the species 
says the leaves are “downy,” and emphasizes this character as chiefly 
distinguishing his species from V. canina. I quote Smith's descrip- 
tion in full, that the reader may see for himself how well it applies 
to the eastern plant under discussion: — 
“63. VIOLA ADUNCA. Hooked Violet.— Stems simple, ascending. Leaves 
ovate, somewhat heart-shaped, obtuse, crenate, downy, dotted. Stipulas 
loosely fringed. Flower-stalks longer than the leaves. Nectary hooked.— 
Brought by Mr. Menzies from the west coast of North America. This species 
has the size and habit of V. canina; and their stipulas, flower-stalks, and 
bracteas are similar. The calyx-leaves too are extended, in like manner, at the 
base. The whole of the herbage is minutely speckled, as in our last species, 
as well as in canina. But the plant is more or less downy, and clearly dis- 
tinguished by the strongly recurved form of the spur, which if straight would be 
as long as the lip. The two lateral petals are downy at the base. Perhaps 
this species is more akin to canina than to any other, and ought to stand near 
it; at least if the rubella * and maculata have no elongation [auricles] at’the 
base of their calyx.” 
1 | am under especial obligation to Prof. Trelease, recent Director of the Missouri 
Botanical Garden, for the loan of 126 sheets of this species. 
2 Rees’ Encyclopedia vol 38; no. 63 under article on Viola. 
3“ Herbage glabrous or nearly so," Piper in Flora of Washington; ''glabrous or 
nearly so," Nelson in New Manual of Rocky Mt. Botany; in key, unqualifiedly 
*' Leaves glabrous.” 
t No. 62. V. maculata Cavan., from the Falkland Islands. 
5No.61. V. rubella Cavan., native of Chili, South America. 
