VIOLET FAMILY 



The leaves are not yet mature and are more or less 

 rolled inward at each side when the first blossoms 

 appear. These are usually a deep violet-blue marked 

 with hair-Hnes, but sometimes are pale blue, sometimes 

 blue and white striped. The arrangement of stamens 

 and pistil implies the coming of the bee, and when she 

 does not come the flowers mature no seeds. Possibly 

 more than one observer has noted that no matter how 

 abundant may be the blue blossom.s — they m.ay fairly 

 carpet the earth — there is no corresponding production 

 of seed. There usually is some, but not at all what 

 one would expect. 



However, though neglected by its friend, the Blue 

 Violet is not without resources. Many species are 

 able to do the same thing, but the Blue Violet does it 

 more abundantly. It produces close to the ground on 

 short stems, often hidden under the leaves, the merest 

 apologies for flowers — no petals, no nectar, half closed. 

 They look like flowers that have aborted or like blasted 

 buds, but within each are stam.ens and ovules. The 

 home pollen fertilizes the pistil and soon the wretched 

 little flower is changed into a plump, healthy capsule 

 full of seeds. These curious blossoms are produced 

 throughout the entire summer. 



BIRD'S-FOOT VIOLET 



Viola pcddta 



Perennial, stemless, flowers lilac and blue. Sandy or 

 gravelly soil, dry fields and hillsides. Maine to Min- 

 nesota, south to Florida and Missouri. Rare in northern 

 Ohio. April, May. 



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