VIOLET FAMILY VIOLACEAE 
SWEET WHITE VIOLET 
Viola blanda Willd. 
The Sweet White Violet is a small plant with a slender 
underground stem, basal leaves and fragrant white flowers. 
It is found in moist woodlands from western Quebec to Minne- 
sota and southward 
to northern Georgia 
and Louisiana, and 
blooms in April and 
May. 
The whole plant 
is usually smooth ex- 
cept that there are 
short white hairs on 
the upper surfaces of 
the leaves. Midribs, 
petioles and flower 
stalks are often tinged 
red. In summer the 
plant spreads by slen- 
der leafy runners. 
The flowers are 
very irregular. The § 
green sepals are slightly unequal and have earlike appendages at 
the base. The white petals are purple veined, and the lower has 
a spur at the base in which nectar accumulates. There are § 
stamens, 2 of which have appendages that project into the spur 
of the corolla. There is 1 pistil. 
The Large-leaved White Violet, Viola incognita Brainerd, is 
similar, but the upper surfaces of the leaves are smooth, and the rest 
of the plant is somewhat hairy. Also, the 2 lateral petals are bearded. 
The Striped White Violet, Viola striata Ait.,is found in rich wood- 
ed bottomlands throughout the state but is most common in the 
south. It is much branched, 1 foot high or less, and has numerous 
heart-shaped and toothed leaves. The many large flowers are axillary 
on long peduncles. The petals are white, cream color or pale lavender, 
with the 2 lateral bearded and the lowermost thickly striped with 
purple veins. 
A violet by a mossy stone 
_ Half hidden from the eye! 
Fair as a star when only one 
Is shining in the sky. 
Lucy—WIiLLIAM WORDSWORTH 
202 
