278 Viola imberbis, a f Species of Violet 



slope of the Sharpstones Hill*, distant about two miles and 

 a half south from Shrewsbury, a white sweet-scented violet, 

 which I then concluded was only a white variety of Fiola 

 odorata. Comparing it, however, on my return home, with the 

 descriptions of /^.odorata and V. hirta in Smith's English Flora, 

 i. 302., I speedily discovered that my violet did not entirely 

 correspond with either of those species, but differed very ma- 

 terially in its characters from both, being apparently an interme- 

 diate species. Want of leisure prevented the continuance of 

 my investigations at that time, but in the spring of 1834, I re- 

 newed my researches, the result of which tends greatly to 

 strengthen my former opinion of this violet being intermediate 

 between V. odorata and V, hirta ; but whether it may aspire 

 to the rank of a species must be decided by more experienced 

 and scientific botanists than myself; to facilitate whose deter- 

 mination, I enclose a few dried specimens, which you will 

 probably take the trouble of distributing among such of our 

 eminent botanists as you may judge advisable [we will, when 

 this account has been published], who will doubtless favour 

 you with their opinions. 



The chief points in which V. imberbis differs from V. 

 odorata and hirta are the following : — The whole plant [even 

 both surfaces of the leaf, it is stated in a detailed description 

 which we have omitted] is copiously covered with short pu- 

 bescence, especially visible in the young unfolded leaves, of 

 which Smith states V, odorata to be destitute. [See the last 

 paragraph but one.] This pubescence, though not so decid- 

 edly of the rigid hairy nature peculiar to V. hirta, approaches 

 in quantity to the hairiness of that species, but differs in being 

 shorter ; and in that covering the petioles being deflexed [see 

 the last paragraph but one], whilst in V» hirta it is horizontal. 



* This eminence forms a portion of a low range of hills of greywacke 

 mixed with mica, and in some places covered with an indurated stratum 

 of rounded semitransparent quartz pebbles, cemented with clay. This 

 delightful spot commands a highly interesting and beautiful panoramic 

 view of the town of Shrewsbury and the plain of Shropshire, bounded by 

 the long ridge of Haughmon, the Wrekin, Stretton Hills, Long Mountain, 

 Breidden, and Welsh Hills. On its slopes grow the following plants : — 

 Teesdalia nudicaulis, Dianthus deltoides, Berberis vulgaris, C/'lex nana, 

 Carex muricata var. /3 Sm., Senecio visedsus, Scleranthus annuus, Oro- 

 banche major, O'robus tuberdsus, Polygala vulgaris, Arenaria rubra, 

 JF/ypericum pulchrum, Ornithopus perpusillus, and Ranunculus parviflorus. 

 At the distance of a few fields is Bomere Pool, where the botanist will 

 find Ranunculus lingua, Tiola palustris, i'latine tripetala, Comarum 

 palustre, Peplis Portula , Montia fontana, Fedia dentata, Lobelia Dort- 

 manna, Veronica scutellata, Scheuchzen'a palustris, Habenaria viridis and 

 bifolia, Epipactis latifolia, Eridphorum vaginatum; Carex curta, ovalis, 

 stellulata, teretiuscula, limosa, Pseudo-Cyperus, vesicaria, ampullacea, and 

 filifdrmis; and Brachypodium sylvaticum [Festiica sylvatica Hudson], 



