VIOLET TRIBE 87 



seed is effected. The capsule consists of one cell, which is full of seeds, and 

 which is formed of three valves. The seeds are attached to the inner part of 

 each of these valves, and the parchment-like covering bursts open as it ripens 

 into three divisions, exposing to view the closely-arranged glossy seeds on 

 each valve. Each valve begins to fold along the centre and bring the two 

 halves together, thus exerting a gradually increasing pressure upon the 

 polished oval seeds from below, and at length suddenly detaches them, and 

 they are jerked off to a considerable distance. The capsule of the Violet, 

 after ripening, stands upright on the stalk. "This upright position," says a 

 writer in the " Magazine of Natural History," speaking of it as occurring in 

 the scented Violet, " appears to be intended by Nature to give more effect to 

 the valvular mechanism for scattering the seeds, as it thus gains a higher 

 elevation, in some cases more than an inch, from which to project them ; and 

 this will give it, according to the laws of projectiles, a very considerable 

 increase of horizontal extent." A smaller variety of the Wood Violet is 

 sometimes called Viola reichenhachiana ; it has paler flowers, with longer 

 spui's. 



5. Cream-coloured Violet {V. Iddea). — Stem divided into 2:)rocunibent 

 or sub-erect flowering branches ; leaves egg-shaped, scarcely heart-shaped at 

 the base; petals narrow. Plant perennial. This Violet grows on mountains, 

 and is not unfrequent on boggy heaths in England. It has also been found, 

 though rarely, in Scotland and Ireland. Its flowers appear in May, and are 

 pale blue or white. It is by many botanists considered to be but a sub- 

 species of the Dog Violet. 



6. Dog Violet {V. canina.)— This is probably a form or sub-species of 

 V. sylvatica, but when that has its leaf-rosette well developed, it appears very 

 distinct. In T'. canina the leaves are on long footstalks, and the bracts are 

 halfAvay up the flower-stalk, or a little above it, slender and toothed. It 

 Appears about a month later than the Wood Violet, and is found more on 

 grassy banks than in woods. 



7. Peach-leaved "Violet {V. 2'>crsiccefoUa). — Though regarded by some 

 authors as a distinct species, others regard this as a sub-species of V. canina, 

 from which it is distinguished by its long root-stock and its runners. Its 

 flowers, too, are always paler, being either a delicate lilac tint or white. It 

 is very local, and has been recorded as occurring in boggy places in the eastern 

 counties ; also in Galway, Ireland. 



8. Sand Violet {V. arenaria). — A small tufted plant, covered with hoary 

 down, and with rounder leaves than those of V. canina. The flowers are 

 pale blue, with broad petals and short spur, borne on short branches from 

 the compact little rosette of leaves. They appear in May and June. It is 

 one of the rarest of our native plants, only two localities being recorded. 

 One of these is in Westmoreland, and the other in Upper Teesdale, at an 

 altitude of 2,000 feet. 



9. Pansy Violet, or Heartsease (F. frimlor). — Stem angular, 

 branched ; leaves oblong, crenate ; stipules deeply cut ; terminal lobe broad, 

 crenate. Plant generally annual. This, and the following species, are the 

 only representatives in our fields of the Pansy, that beautiful velvet-like 

 flower which has so many varieties in the garden. Most of our garden 



