VIOLA-CEiE. (ViOLET FAMILY.) 33 



1. VIOLA, Toum. Violet. Heart's-easb. 



Sepals nearly equal, produced at the base into a free appendage. Petals un- 

 equal, the lower one produced into a sac or spur at the base. Stamens short ; 

 the broad filaments membranaceous and prolonged above the anthers ; the two 

 anterior ones spurred on the back. Stigma often beaked. — Low herbs. Pe- 

 duncles 1 -flowered. 



§ 1. Leaves and peduncles arising from a subterranean rhizoma, without apparent 

 stems : perennials, flowering in early spring, the later flowers apetulous. 



* Flowers blue or purple. 



1- V. CUCUllata, Ait. Smooth or pubescent; leaves long-petiolcd, all 

 undivided, varjing from cordate-ovate to reniform, serrate, the sides at the base 

 involute when young ; the later ones acutish ; lateral petals bearded ; stigma 

 beakless. — Low ground, common. — Flowers blue, often variegated with white. 



2. V. palmata, L. Downy or hairy, rarely smooth ; earliest leaves entire, 

 cordate or reniform; later ones variously 3- 9-lobed, the central lobe always 

 largest, lanceolate or oblong, the lateral ones spreading ; flowers large, with the 

 lateral and lower petals bearded. — Dry soil, common. — Flowers purple or 

 blue. 



3. v. villosa, Walt. Downy ; leaves prostrate, short-petiolcd, orbicular or 

 broadly cordate, crenate, purple-veined ; peduncles mostly shorter than the 

 leaves, flowers small. — Dry sandy or gravelly soil, Florida to North Carolina. 

 — Flowers pale blue. 



4. V. sagittata, Ait. Smoothish ; leaves cordate-oblong, acute, toothed 

 and somewhat sagittate at the base, the earliest ones rounded, short-petioled ; 

 lateral petals bearded. — Damp pastures in the upper districts and northward. — 

 Flowers larger than in the last, deep blue. 



5. V. pedata, L. Smoothish ; leaves all 7 - 9-parted, the divisions linear- 

 lanceolate, entire or toothed, narrowed downward ; petals beardless. — Dry 

 sandy soil in the middle and upper districts, and northward. — Flowers large, 

 deep blue or purple. 



* * Flowers white. 



6. V. prim. ulae folia, L. Smooth or hairy ; leaves oblong, mostly acute, 

 crenate, cordate or ahrujjtly dccurrent on the winged petiole ; petals often acute, 

 the lower ones bearded and striped with purple. — Low grounds, common. — 

 Rhizoma slender, and commonly bearing long leafy runners. Flowers small. 



7. v. lanceolata, L. Smooth or pubescent ; leaves lanceolate or linear, 

 nanxjwed into the long and winged petioles ; flowers beardless. — Low pine bar- 

 rens. Florida and northward. — Rhizoma like the last. 



8. V. blanda, Willd. Minutely pubescent; rhizoma slender; leaves small, 

 orbicular-cordate, crenate, shorter than the peduncles ; flowers small, beardless, 

 sweet-scented, the lower petal striped with purple. — Low ground and meadows. 

 North Carolina and northward. — Petioles slender, wingless. Leaves rarely 

 acute. 



