Jffr. Schwfinitz on the Genus Viola. 5f9 



Scapis tetragonis, saepe sursum tortiusculis, pilosis, de- 

 mum elongatis- Stiptdis linearibus oppositis. 



^ Capsulis glabris. lladice perpendicular! crassa. Cats- 

 pitihus foJlosis compactis, habitu stricto, crescit, plerumque 

 undique canopubescentibus. 



It is surprising that Mr. Putsch should have combined 

 this extremely distinct species, having a very predominant 

 habit of pubescence and large bright blue flowers, with the 

 Linnean |>r//?m/ae/b/j^, whose habit and manner of inflo- 

 rescence is so widely different. Mr. Nuttall excellently 

 points out the distinction. The present species invariably 

 grows on dry sunny hills — preferring a gravelly soil and 

 flowers early in April j the other, rather later, always ad- 

 heres to moist swampy places, and is much more nearly al- 

 lied to lanceolaia and blanch than to this. Nuttall says the 

 scape of ovata is shorter than the leaves. 1 have found it 

 so, in a few instances in very dense tufts ; in general how- 

 ever the scapes are much longer than the leaves whose pe- 

 tioles are at first unusually short. I have met with gla- 

 brous specimens in peculiar situations j otherwise the pu- 

 bescence is pretty constant, and especially striking on the 

 margins of the leaves ; which caused iiluhlenberg to call 

 this species ciliafa. It is common with us. 



7. Species* V. cucullata. Aiton. 



The difference between this and obliqua of Alton, I am 



satisfied, is a specific one, and the diagnostic characters 

 constant. Besides the general habit, these are however 

 orrly to be ascertained by minute examination. Hence, I 

 presume, specimens of the one have been often mistaken 

 for the other, which appears to have induced Mr. Nuttall 

 to reject the obliqtia altogether, the name of which, is cer- 

 tainly very inadequate. I liave done my best to make out 

 the synonymy to each, without being perfectly certain in ev- 

 ery instance. 



fVilldenoia p. 1162. n. 7. appears decidedly to belong to 

 cucullaia. 



Peraoon Synops p. 254. n. 8, likewise. 



Pursch. Fl. p. 173- n- 10 — is slightly characterised as 

 cucnilata ; but probably is intended exclusively as such. 



Elliott p. 298. n. 6 — refers probably to both. Some 

 part of his description belongs to cuci/Z/afa beyond a doubt— 

 the want of beard on the lower petal however points to ob- 

 hqua ; thither T refer the cordata of Walter. 



t 



