Teacher's Leaflet. 



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THE BLUE OR PURPLE 

 VIOLETS. 



There may be found in New York 

 State, five blue or purple violets, 

 which may be distinguished as 

 follows : 



Early Blue Violet (V. cuctillata). — 

 This is the commonest one of all. 

 The leaves are deep green and heart- 

 shaped with edges scalloped and 

 rolled at the base. The leaf stalks 

 are a little longer than the flower 

 stalks. The three lower petals are 

 white at their bases and the two side 

 petals are bearded at the throat of 

 the flower. This grows in grassy 

 woods and wet meadows and along 

 roadsides. It grows from three to 

 seven inches high and blossoms 

 through April, May and June. There 

 is a variety of this species called the 

 Palmate (V. palmata) which differs 

 from the common form by having 

 the leaves deeply lobed. The little 

 closed flowers are on stems that lie 

 flat. (See figure p. 96.) 



The Arrow-leafed Violet (V. ovata). 

 — This may be distinguished by dark 

 green leaves which are shaped like 

 arrowheads. They are scalloped on 

 the edges near the base while the 

 tips often have plain margins. The 

 flowers have a very short spur and 

 the upper four petals are bearded at 

 the base. The leaves and stems 

 are downy; the flowers are dark blue 

 or purple ; the little closed flowers 

 are on erect stems. 



The Selkirk's Violet {V. seikirkii). 

 — This is not a common .species but 

 may be found on mountains and 

 wooded hills. The flower stalk is 

 not ordinarily more than two inches 

 high. The leaves are nearly smooth, 

 dark green, and with scalloped 

 edges. The flower is readily dis- 

 tingui.shed as the spur is almost as 

 long as the petals, which are pale 



Photo by Verne Morton. 



The Canada white violet, a leafy-stemmed 

 species. 



