1903.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 683 



in length. The leaves are always very numerous, and owing to the 

 short petioles — usually less than the blade — they appear very much 

 crowded. Sometimes the teeth at the base are scarcely larger than 

 the other crenations, while in other specimens two or three of 

 them are quite prominent, showing an approach to V. sagittata. 



The above descriptions apply to typical V. fimhriatula, but the plant 

 is exceedingly variable and notwithstanding the fact that in their typi- 

 cal forms the present species and V. sagittata are abundantly distinct, 

 there occur forms which are about as nearly intermediate as they can 

 well be, so that the old practice of making one a subspecies of the other 

 is by no means as absurd as Mr. Pollard would have us believe {Proc. 

 Biol. Soc. Wash., X, p. 89). One form which occurs abundantly near 

 Christiana, Lancaster county (PL XXXVII, fig. ii), has leaves truly 

 sagittate, 20 x 70 mm., with petioles more than twice as long. The whole 

 plant is strongly pubescent, and the early leaves ovate. Prof. Greene 

 identifies it as "uncommonly long-leaved firnbriatula." The step from 

 this to the pubescent sagittata described beyond is surely very short. 

 It is possible that there may be a separable intermediate form, but the 

 question wnll bear more study before the true status of these intermedi- 

 ates is determined. In another direction V. /im6n'a/w/a approaches 

 the leaf-form of V. papilionacea, and this form which is quite sharply 

 defined has been named by Prof. Greene V. aberrans. 



23. Viola fimbriatula aberrans (Greene). (PI. XXXVII, figs, iv-vi.) 

 Violn aberrans Greene MSS. 



Range. — Apparently coincides with that of the former. 



Habitat. — Dry sandy and rocky banks, usually with V. fimbriatula, 

 but less abundant, and always easily distinct. 



Description. — This is essentially a long petioled V. -fimbriatula, with 

 broad, cordate, somewhat cucullatc leaves, without strong basal teeth 

 and usually somewhat less pubescent. 



Flowering plant, Media, Pennsylvania, April 26, 1903. No. 5,147, 

 Herb., W. S. Similar to preceding, but leaves 18 x 30 mm.; petioles 

 60 mm. ; scapes 100 mm. 



Fruiting plant, Media, June 4. No. 5,148, Herb., W. S. I-eaves 

 75 X 100 mm.; petioles 210 mm.; cleistogenes horizontal, 30 mm. long. 



This is a very well-marked form, though not common in the imme- 

 diate vicinity of Philadelphia. Mr. Pollard's V. porteriana does not 

 seem to occiu' in this vicinity at all, so that I have been unable to 

 study it. I should, however, have very grave doubts about referring 

 it to V. dentata of Pursh, which grows "in wet meadows and woods"! 

 I fail to see the advantage of trying to utilize old names which are 



