HAIRY VIOLET ?j 



spring (usual!)- infL-rtile) and autumn, the latter cleistogamic ' ;mk1 terlile 

 though apetalous. ( )nc difference is the markeil absence ol scent, but 

 as it is not so usually a woodland or shade species this is the more 

 readily to be explained. The spur is long and hooked and two 

 anther-spurs are lance-shaped. 



The seeds of the Mairy X'iolet are dispersed by the plant's own 

 agenc}', the tlower-stalks hanging down when the capsule is ripe, and 

 the seeds are sown in the ground around the parent plant. The seeds 

 are also dispersed by ants. The capsule opens by three valves. 



Hairy Violet is a sand-lo\ing plant, rccjuiring a sand soil with a 

 very little humus, in this dittering h'om / . odorata. 



Pucciiiia z'iolcr, Lh'ocvs/is 7'io/(C, J^croiiospora cf/iisa, Tliiclavia hasi- 

 cola are fungal parasites. 



The Lepidoptera Aixvin/is papliia (Silver-washed Fritillary), A. 

 adippe (High-brown b'ritillar\), antl A. aglaia (Dark-green britillary) 

 feed on it. 



The specific Latin name hiiia means hairy, alluding to the hairy 

 leaves, stem, or leaf-stalk. 



hi Viola odorata numerous stolons or soljoles are thrown out which 

 trail over the surface and root at intervals. In / . liirta they are not 

 prostrate, and do not root at intervals. The roots of both are covered 

 with tubercles when advanced. The leaf- stalks are smooth in V. 

 odorata, hairy in V. liirta, and give it quite a down)', silvery appear- 

 ance. The leaves are much alike, and / '. odorata has hairs below, but 

 they are more numerous in / '. liirta. The leal of the Sweet Violet is 

 glossy above, and the leaves are longer, not so heart-shaped. In 

 V. odorata the bracts or leaflike organs are above the scape, in V. 

 hirta below. The Hairy Violet flowers a week later than ]'. odorata, 

 and the (lowers are not so deep a blue, nor do they smell. They both 

 produce barren spring and fertile autumn fiowers. 



Essential Specific Characters: — 



43. Vio/a liirta, L. — Stoles absent or short, bracts ]k;1ow the 

 middle of tlower-stalk, leaves hair)-, cordate, petioles with spreading 

 hairs, flowers light blue, scentless, spur linear. 



• These are pink, flcsliy, swollen, .ind when the tlowor-stalk lengthens it may l)Ui)' the ripened capsule 

 in the loose soil. The pendent capsules are due to the practically non-e.\istcnt stem (which is very short), 

 so that they are not raised up. 



