The Two-Flowered Violet 



{VIOLA BIFLORA) 



This pretty little plant is common in moist shady places 

 between 3000 and 7000 feet all over Switzerland. It is 

 also found in Bohemia, Silesia, the Vosges, and other parts 

 of Central Europe. It flowers from May to August in the 

 clefts of rocks, and amongst the boulders on the banks of 

 streams. It was in just such a place as this that the present 

 photograph was taken. The flowers are bright yellow, 

 streaked with brown, and the dark green leaves are kidney- 

 shaped and entire. Although there are several other violets 

 with yellow flowers to be found in Switzerland, no other 

 species has broad kidney-shaped leaves. The smooth, erect 

 flower stalk, which also bears some leaves, frequently divides 

 into two near the middle, each branch being terminated by 

 a bright yellow flower. This character, which has given 

 to the violet its name, is, however, by no means constant, 

 and flower stems bearing a single or three or more flowers 

 are also often seen. The number of flowers borne by the 

 plant would seem rather to be determined by its size and 

 vigour, which, of course, again depend largely on the con- 

 ditions under which it grows. 



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