360 The Flora of Wiltshire. 



General in all the Districts. A white variety of this species is 

 equally common. Bracts above the middle of the flower stalk. Petioles 

 with deflexed hairs. Some of the later flowers are occasionally found 

 more or less imperfect or apetalous. 



Independent of the delightful perfume of this humble flower, 

 that ere the swallow comes, 



" Take the winds of March with beauty," 



discovering its name and retreat to the most unlettered admirer of 



nature, before our science 



" Ranged the wild rosy things in learned order, 

 And fill'd with Greek the garden's blushing border." 



Other marks sufficiently distinguish it from the preceding. 



V. sylvatica, (Fries.) Wood Violet. Engl. Bot. t. 620. Reich. 

 Icones, iii. t. xii. 



Locality. Everywhere in woods, thickets, pastures, on banks, 

 and bushy places. P. Fl. April, August. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



Very general in all the Districts. This is the common plant of 

 our banks, hedges, and woods throughout Wilts. In its usual states 

 it is known at once by its short upright central stem, from which 

 the flowering branches are produced laterally, and extended almost 

 horizontally, though ascending towards their extremities. The 

 leaves are thin and flexible, broadly cordate, the upper more or less 

 attenuating into a point, the lower usually cordate reniform. 



The flowers are lilac purple, with a paler spur and scentless. The 

 green colour of the plant has a yellower cast than in the other species. 



This is the " V. canina" of Smith and Hooker, and the "V. sylva- 

 tica " of Babington. In its dwarf state it is the " V. flavicornis" of 

 Foster, (Engl. Bot. Suppl. t. 2736 J which has small leaves and, 

 large flowers, with a pale, and sometimes yellow, spur. 



V. canina, (Linn.) Dog Yiolet. Reich. Icones, iii. t. x. Gren. 

 et Godr. Fl. de France, i. 180. 



Locality. Open heaths and commons, and on hedge banks, in 

 sandy and peaty ground. P. Fl. April, May. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



In all the Districts, but sparingly distributed. This is a distinct 

 species from the " Viola sylvatica" of Fries, and according to Mr. 

 H. C. Watson, has been almost always confused with V. sylvatica 



