Kraemer : Morphology of the Genus Viola 173 



stipLilae, bracts and all parts of the flower excepting the stamens, 

 cliaracteristic sub-epidermal mucilage cells are to be found. 



The flowers arc solitary and arise in the axils of the leaves, be- 

 ginning normally with about the sixth node. The peduncle varies 

 in length and bears at the summit the flower in a partly resupinate 

 position. The length of peduncle increases from the development 

 of the flower bud to the maturing of the fruit. The position of 

 the flowers varies from an erect (in the bud) to a partly resupinate 

 (in the full grown flower) and finally in the maturing of the fruit 

 resumes the erect position. On the i^eduncle are borne the bracts 

 which var}' in size and in position to some extent on the same 

 plant. 



, The flower consists of five sepals, five petals, five stamens and 

 a one-celled ovary with three parietal placentae. There is an ir- 

 regularity in form of stamens and petals and the flower is median 

 z}*gomorphous. The sepals are green, equal and are provided 

 at the base with a slight auriculate appendage. They are united 

 with the ovary for about a third of the length of the latter and are 

 persistent with the mature fruit, 



+ 



The petals arc of three kinds in shape, two above alike, tw^o on 

 each side alike and one that has a spur or sac-like appendage at the 

 base. The latter petal is situated on the under side of the flower in its 

 more or less resupinate position and is adnate with two of the sepals. 

 The side petals are erect at the lower portion and bent so as to 

 form with the spurred petal the characteristic short tube of the 

 corolla. The side and spurred petals may be provided on the 

 upper surface with papillae or hairs or both but are in some cases 

 free from the same. The uppermost petals are similar in sliape, 

 nearly erect and resemble the upper portion of the side petals. 

 Hairs are wanting but papillae are sometimes present. 



In color the petals vary from a white (which may be streaked 

 with purplish or brownish colored veins) to pale blue with darker 

 colored veins, or deep blue or bluish-yellow or yellow color. 



The petals and stamens are inserted on the calyx. The sta- 

 mens alternate with the petals and lie close upon the ovary. They 

 arc connivcnt and are all provided at the apex w^ith a yellowish 

 arrow-shaped appendage. The two on the side near the spurred 

 or sac-like petal possess in addition a sac-like or spurred nectar 



