38 



BRITISH FLOWERING PLANTS 



known species, the Rock-Rose {Helianthemum 

 vulgare) has branching recumbent or ascending 

 stems, about a foot long, with oval leaves placed 

 in pairs opposite each other on the stem, which 

 are green above and whitish below, and slightly 

 curved downwards at the edges. The flowers are 

 yellow, with 5 sepals, the two outermost small ; 5 

 widely expanding petals, and numerous stamens ; 

 in size and colour the flower is not unlike that of a 

 Buttercup. There is 1 style and stigma, and the 

 capsule has 1 or several valves. The plant is 

 common on dry sunny slopes in England and 

 Scotland. 



Order IX. Violacece (1 genus) 



The Violets have 5 sepals and petals, generally 

 irregular, 5 stamens, and a single style, with an 

 oblique stigma. There is 1 ovary, and the 

 capsule has 3 valves. 



All the North European species belong to the 

 single genus Viola. The large-flowered species of 

 Viola, which are favourites in our gardens, are 



generally called Pansies. Some of these are culti- 

 vated varieties of the Wild Pansy, and others are 

 derived from various European species, not found 

 wild in Britain. 



Sweet Violet — Viola odorata 



(Plate XII) 



This plant grows wild in woods and hedges, 

 generally in shady places, but is largely cultivated 

 in gardens for the delicious perfume of the flowers, 

 which are usually of a deep purplish blue colour, 

 but occasionally white. The leaves are heart- 

 shaped, only slightly tapering, with the edges 

 denticulated, and the surface smooth and reticu- 

 lated with nervures. They rise on long or short 

 stalks from a branching root. At the base of the 

 leaf-stalks are small oval pointed root-leaves. 

 Between the leaf-stalks the flower-stalks rise imme- 

 diately from the root ; and above the middle they 

 are provided with two leaf-like appendages called 

 " bracts." The flower has 5 stamens, and the 

 lowest petal forms a hollow spur behind. 



