92 OUR VIOLETS. 
preceding. White-flowered varieties are of rare occurrence; and 
the blossoms, although occasionally slightly scented, are usually 
inodorous. In the immediate neighbourhood of Wycombe, this 
Violet is plentiful in Hollow Lane, and it appears to be frequent 
in other parts of the county where a chalky soil prevails: we 
have records of its occurrence at Hedgerly, Wendover, and 
Drayton-Beauchamp. 
Tur Woop Vioter (Viola sylvatica) is the most ornamental 
species which we possess. Differing widely from its predecessors 
in the smoothness and general appearance of its leaves, which are 
but slightly hairy, it far surpasses them in the size and brilliancy 
of its blossoms, which are, however, scentless. The two first- 
mentioned species have scarcely any stem—both flowers and 
leaves springing from the crown of the root: but in V. sylvatica 
we find a real stem, from which the flowering shoots branch off. 
Modern botanists divide the Wood Violet into two species: and 
it is chiefly with a view of ascertaining whether the second of 
them is found within our limits, that this paper has been written. 
We would therefore direct especial attention to the following brief 
description of the differences existing between the two forms: 
and also to the annexed figures, engraved, by Mr. pea SE 8 
kind permission, from ‘‘ English Botany.” 
Fig. 1. 1. V. Riviniana, Reich. (fig. 1.) This is 
our common scentless Violet, which, as on 
the terrace-walk at Hughenden, produces 
such splendid masses of rich, purple-blue 
flowers : itis common everywhere, in woods 
or on hedgebanks. The chief distinguish- 
ing mark between this and the next 
species lies in the black veins which streak 
the lowermost petal: in V. Riviniana these are numerous, and 
uniformly branched at the base. In the other form, 
2. V. Reichenbachiana, Bor. (fig. 2), which is not, as yet, 
known to occur in our county, the petals are somewhat longer, 
andj much narrower; while the veins of the lowermost one are 
comparatively few, parallel, and scarcely, if at all, branched. 
This is a much less common form in England: but hopes are 
