OUR VIOLETS. 91 
least five species of Viola. People generally recognise but three : 
the Sweet Violet, the Scentless, or Dog Violet, and the Pansy, or 
Heart’s-ease. But in the second of these, we may readily discover 
three forms with distinguishing characteristics which can scarcely 
be overlooked if we exercise our powers of observation in an 
ordinary degree, and to these our remarks will be chiefly devoted. 
Tue Sweer Viorer (Viola odorata) is so universally known and 
admired, that we will not insult our readers by attempting a de- 
scription of it. We find it with white, pale blue, or purple 
flowers: and near Buckingham a variety occurred with deep 
claret-coloured blossoms: occasionally very pretty specimens are 
found, having white flowers striped with purple. It may be re- 
marked, that in a wild state, the white Violets are usually much 
earlier than the purple ones: and about Wycombe both are equally 
common, although in some parts of the country a white Violet is 
accounted a rarity. Two points, however, connected with this 
species demand special attention, since itis by them that the Sweet 
Violet is distinguished from the next species, the Hairy Violet. 
If we pull up a root of V. odorata we shall notice that from its 
centre proceed one or more runners, which are technically, and 
without the slightest reference to Ritualism, called séoles; these 
stoles, at intervals, take root in the ground, and throw up leaves 
_ and flowers. In the Hairy Violet these stoles do not exist. 
Again, if we pluck a Sweet Violet, we shall notice that, 
above the middle of the flower-stalk, are two tiny light-green 
_ appendages, called bracts, which are really small leaves; in the 
Hairy Violet, these are situated below the middle of the flower- 
stalk. 
_ Tue Harry Vioter (Viola hirta) is not uncommon upon our 
chalky banks; and—with the two following species—shares the 
name of Dog Violet, a name given, probably, in contemptuous 
_ allusion to its want of scent, In many respects, it resembles 
_ the Sweet Violet, from which it is distinguished by the afore- 
mentioned peculiarities, The leaves are hairy, and their under- 
sides very pale green; in outline they are somewhat more tri- 
angular than those of V. odorata; the leaf-stalks are longer, and 
also very hairy; the flowers are of a paler blue than those of the 
M 
