1870.] HARDY HERBACEOUS PLANTS. 445 



superior. Among the varieties of Sweet Violets, the Czar, the King, 

 and Giant are the largest flowers and stoutest stalks, and are conse- 

 quently best for cutting ; but I have not found either superior to the 

 common Russia, in single or double flowers, for continuous and sus- 

 tained bloom, while nothing surpasses the Neapolitan for forcing. 



V. p.dmata — Palmate-leaved Violet. — This is a very rare plant in 

 gardens, and a very distinct species. It grows about 6 inches high, 

 in rather tufted fashion, with palmated or five-lobed coarsely-toothed 

 hairy leaves, and rather large purple flowers on stout short stalks. 

 Native of North America. Best adapted for culture on rockwork, in 

 deep rich gritty loam, in shade. Flowers in late spring and early 

 summer. 



V. Pedata — Birdfoot Violet. — This is related to the last, but is 

 even a finer species, and about as rare. It grows about the same 

 height, and is very compact and neat in its style. The leaves are cut 

 into seven narrow lobes, the basal and the central ones usually deeply 

 notched. The flowers are large, dark blue, carried well above the 

 leaves on stout stalks. Best adapted for rockwork decoration in deep 

 moist sandy soil, in shade. Native of North America. Flowers in 

 late spring and early summer. 



V. plumata — Feather-leaved Violet. — This is a south European 

 species, with much of the habit of the two preceding. The leaves are 

 broadly ovate in outline, and divided almost to the midrib, giving the 

 appearance of a broadly pinnate leaf, and the divisions are notched at 

 the point. The flowers are smaller than in either of the two preceding, 

 nor are they thrown so high above the foliage, but they are rich dark 

 violet, and in this respect they are superior to those of the others. 

 It requires the same treatment in cultivation, and is adapted to the 

 same purposes as palmata and pedata, and flowers about the same 

 time. 



V. pyrolcefolia — Winter green-leaved Viola, syn. Viola lutea. — This 

 is a Patagonian species, and one of the handsomest of the family. It 

 grows in tufted masses, producing bluntly egg-shaped leaves, with a 

 heart-shaped base, toothed and hispid, as is every part of the plant 

 outside the corolla, and inside also it is somewhat bearded. The 

 flowers are large, bright yellow, on slender stalks, but raised consider- 

 ably above the foliage ; the lower petal is beautifully penciled with 

 narrow dark red lines, suitable only for warm partially-shaded posi- 

 tions on rockwork or for pot-culture, and delights most in rich fibrous 

 loam with a good allowance of grit in it. 



V. tricolor — Pansy or Heartsease. — The garden varieties of the 

 Pansy are so familiar and so much admired by everybody that they 

 scarce require praise or description ; the mere mention of their name 



