14 ENGLISH BOTANY. 



of a few leaves from 1 to 2 inches in diameter, on stalks 2 to 5 

 inches long ; during summer the extremity of the rootstock 

 elongates into a procumbent stem, and sometimes produces a few 

 short scions, all of which lose their green colour and become root- 

 stock by the time the plant is ready to flower in the succeeding 

 spring. Scapes produced from the axils of the leaves, 2 to 6 inches 

 high, with two small nearly opposite lanceolate slightly toothed 

 bracts about the middle. Flowers drooping, about ^ inch across. 

 Sepals blunt, with the basal appendages short and rounded. Petals 

 white or lilac, veined with purple, especially on the lower one, which 

 is produced backwards into a very short obtuse spur. Anthers with 

 orange appendages at the apex, the two lower with short green 

 spurs at the base. Capsule splitting into 3 boat-shaped valves with 

 the seeds in the middle furrow, f to |^ inch long, obtuse, glabrous, 

 produced both from the petalous and ajietalous flowers. Plant 

 lively green, quite glabrous. Leaves somewhat shining, thin in 

 texture. Sometimes, though rarely, runners like those of V. odorata 

 are produced. 



Marsh Violet. 



French, Violette des Marais. German, Sumpf- Veilcken. 



SPECIES II.— VIOLA ODORATA. Lhm. 



Plate CLXXI. 



Reich. Ic. Fl. Germ, et Helv. Vol. III. Viol. Tab. VIII. Fig. 4498. 



Rootstock short, branched, scarred, producing radical leaves and 

 leafless peduncles ; scions always present, elongated, resembling 

 runners. Leaves roundish-ovate, deeply cordate at the base, with 

 an obtuse or somewhat acute angle at the apex, crenate, with short 

 hairs on the veins, edges, and petiole. Stipules sub-membi'anous, 

 lanceolate, with glandular hair-like processes on the margin. 

 Bracts about or above the middle of the peduncles. Flowers 

 fragrant. Style very little enlarged upwards, and slightly hooked 

 at the apex. Capsule globose, downy. 



In thickets and shady places. Not uncommon, but probably 

 often of garden origin. It, however, appears to be undoubtedly 

 wild in the South of England. 

 England, [Scotland,] Ireland. Perennial. Spring and (apetalous 



flowers) Summer, 



Rootstock somewhat fleshy, with ring-like scars left by former 

 leafstalks ; from above these scars the scions are produced during 

 the summer. These scions elongate, take root at the extremity 

 (much as in the strawberry plant), and become independent plants, 

 though still connected with the parent ; after the second year, how- 

 ever, the intermediate part of the connecting stem decays, the 



