224 THE JOURNAL OF BOTANY 



Group II. — Eepresentative species V. sa.vdtilis Schmidt 

 (T'. alpestris Jordan). 



Perennials or subperennials. Stipules pinnatipartite, that is 

 the middle lobe markedly different from the lateral lobes. Petals 

 always longer than the sepals, spreading. Like the preceding, the 

 members of this group are found in grassy places in hilly or moun- 

 tainous country ; they are allied on the one hand to the group of 

 F. lutea, on the other to the group of F. tricolor L. (sensu stricto). 

 As has been previously stated, the head-quarters of the group seems 

 to be the Pyrenees, and it is only outlying members that have been 

 recorded for this country. 



The group may be subdivided either by the colour of the 

 flowers, which seems to be more trustworthy here than in the 

 group ^ of V. Curtisii, or by the character of the median lobe of 

 the stipule. 



Certain species seem fairly coustantly to have yellow flowers — 

 as, for instance, V. alpestris Jordan and V. Provostii Boreau. Others 

 are rarely, if ever, entirely yellow — as, for instance, V. lepida Jordan, 

 in which the upper petals are obovate and of a beautiful caerulean 

 violet. 



It will be noted, however, that the members of this group can- 

 not be rigidly placed in subdivisions by the colour of their flowers, 

 and that the subdivisions to some extent overlap one another, as 

 even here the coloration is subject to certain variations and grada- 

 tions ; but, as colour of the flowers is certainly to some extent a 

 useful guide, I think it better to attempt a subdivision on this basis. 



* Yellow-flowered species with radiating dark lines on the lower 

 petals, rarely or hardly ever with violet-coloured flowers. 

 Continental species belonging to this series are V. alpestris 

 Jordan, V. ffavescens Jordan, and V. Provostii Boreau. Of these, 

 only the last, as far as I am aware, has hitherto been definitely 

 recorded for any part of Great Britain. A plant bearing marked 

 similarity with V. alpestris Jordan in several of its most important 

 characteristics was gathered by Mr. W. A. Shoolbred on Kirkibost 

 Island, N. Uist, in 1898. The stem branches copiously; the 

 leaves are ovate or ovate -oblong, the lamina being longer than 

 the petiole. The stipules on the main stem are pinnatipartite, the 

 median lobe being conspicuously larger than the lateral lobes and 

 subsimilar to the leaves; the stipules on some of the lateral branches 

 are somewhat different. The flowers are showy and yellow, with 

 petals longer than the sepals, and lower and lateral' petals with 

 radiating dark violet lines. Spur violet-coloured, longer than the 

 appendages of the sepals. It may be well to leave this plant for 

 further study ; meanwhile I append a description of V. alpestris 

 Jordan, drawn up from the original description and authentic 

 material. 



Plant of from 1-3 dm., covered with a very short pubescence, 

 diffuse from the base, much branched, with ascending flexuous 

 branches. Leaves oval or oval-oblong, crenulated, not cordate. 



