VIOLET FAMILY 



kidney-shaped or broad heart-shaped, crenate at mar- 

 gin, and edged with hairs. The books differ widely in 

 regard to the Dog- Violet; some consider its varied forms 

 as species, others regard them merely as varieties. At 

 any rate, this is one of our early Violets and most 

 welcome. It is often confused with the Common Blue, 

 but may be distinguished by the fact that the flowers 

 grow from short, leafy stems, while the Common Blue 

 flowers are stemless, the peduncles apparently spring- 

 ing from the ground, just as the leaves. The blossom 

 comes a little earlier and is a little smaller. The white 

 form is often abundant locally but cannot be considered 

 common. 



"^ LONG-SPURRED VIOLET 



Yiola rostrdta 



Perennial, having stems, flowers pale violet. Shaded 

 hillsides and rocky woods. Quebec to Michigan, south in 

 the mountains to Georgia. Frequent in northern Ohio. 

 April, May. 



Stems. — Numerous, erect, three to six inches high. 

 Leaves. — Smooth, cordate-ovate or reniform, acuminate, 

 serrate; petioles slender. 



Flowers. — Pale violet, darker veined, beardless; sepals 

 linear-lanceolate. Spur long, slender. 



The Long-Spurred Violet may be easily distinguished 

 by its pale violet color, its striped petals, and its long, 

 slender spur. Although the books give it a rather 

 limited habitat, it may be considered fairly abundant 

 in northern Ohio, although rarely found in beds. 



i6o 



