WILD, OR NATIVE FLOWERS. 7 



The commonest among our blue Violets is 



The Hooded Violet — Viola cncuUata, (Ait.) 



so called from the involute habit of the leaves, which, when first 

 appearing, are folded inwardly as if to shield the tender buds of the 

 flowers from the chilling winds. There are many forms or varieties of 

 this species varying very much in appearance, the difference being 

 probably due to the habitat in which they occur. One of the hand- 

 somest is the Large Blue Wood Violet, which flowers about the middle 

 of June, has blue scentless flowers with round petals, and large blunt 

 hirsute leaves, and is found in low woods. Another variety, with deep 

 violet flowers, has elongated petals and pointed, rather smooth, leaves 

 of a purplish tint, at least till late in the season. It is found on open 

 sunny banks, and dry grassy hill-sides. Yet another variety is often 

 found by the sides of springs and rivers, forming spreading tufts among 

 the grass with its smooth pointed leaves and pale delicate flowers. 

 The prettiest of all our blue Violets is the 



Arrow-Leaved Violet — Viola sagitlata^ (Ait.) 



It is found in low, sandy, shady valleys or very light loamy soil. 

 The leaves of this species are not always arrow or heart-shaped, but also 

 long and narrow, blunt at the apex, decurrent on the short ieaf-stalk, 

 notched at the edges, and rather roughened and dulled in colour by the 

 short silvery hairs on the surface. The flowers rise singly from the 

 crown of the plant: colour — a full azure-blue, a little white at the base of 

 the petals which are bearded with soft silky wool ; anthers — a bright 

 orange, which form a tiny cone from the meeting of the tips. The 

 flowers, six or eight in number, fall back from the centre, and lie 

 prostrate on the closely horizontal leaves. The unopened buds are 

 sharply folded with bright green sepals, and are of a deep bluish-purple. 

 Another form, sometimes called Viola ovata, very nearly resembles the 

 above, but the leaves are less hairy, and the color is more purple in 

 the tint. 



Among the white Violets none are so beautiful as the 



Branching White Wood Violet — Viola Canadensis, (L.) 



This, our Canada Violet, is worthy of a place in the garden. Not 

 only is it a lovely flower, but it takes kindly to garden culture, preferring 

 a shady place to the oper. sunshine. In its native haunts, the rich black 

 vegetable mould of beech and maple woods, it rises to the height of 

 from nine inches to a foot, throwing out slender leafy-bracted branches, 

 with many buds and pure milk-white flowers. The petals are slightly 



