7\j Mr, Schwe'tfiitz on (he Genus Viola. 



Though eDtiiely unacqtialnted with this species, found by 

 Mr. Nuttal!, to whose indeJatigable labours the science is so 

 deeply indebted, on the plains of Missouri, and the only Vj- 

 ola he observed there, I have no doubt of its being a distinct 

 species ; that gentleman's talents for correct discrimination 

 being above praise. Botany, I conceive, owes fully as mucli 

 to him for his excellent distinctions, as on account of the 

 unsparing zeal with which he traverses our most inhospita- 

 ble wilds, to augment our knowledge. It flowers in May 

 and srovvs to (he hei2:ht of six inches ; it is allied to the for- 

 mer by all appearance. Mr. Nuttall describes it thus : 

 V. caulcscens, perennis, pubescens. CauU simplici, 



erecto, folioso. 



Foliis lanceolato-ovatis, intogris, semiunciam latis, acutis, 



nervosis opacis, in petiolum longum attcnuaiis, niargine et 



nervis mlnutini pubescentibus. Stipulis axillaribus longis, 



lanceolato-lineanbus, integris. Folio cum petiolo 3—4 unci- 



ali, vix semiunciam lato. 



Floribiis minoribus, lutcis, cxtus purpurasccntibus, \n })(^', 

 dunciilis longitudine foliorum. Ca/ycis laciniis lineari-lan- 

 ceolatis acutis. Stigmate capitato, glabriusculo, erostrato- 



The description se&ms to imply a considerable affinity to 

 our V. striata. 



The next species is the only American one of the subdi- 

 vision S/y?^/^.? yE?mn(5/.;^Jz>; most of the European ones are 

 alpine, 



29. Species. V. hicolor vel potius Icnclla. Muhlen- 

 berg. 



Elliott arvensis p. 30^. n. lo. Pvnch hicuhr p. 175. n. 22. 

 J^ultall bitolor ^. 151. n. 19. J^uhl, C:it. arvensh n. 20. by specimens, 

 KtiJP'York Cat. bicnJnr n. 12. Muhl Cat. tenrlln n. 2^J. by imperfect sppri- 

 mens, and confirmed by the citation in New-York CataL llufiuesqne. 



This interesting Viola grows with us, along the river bot- 

 toms and in retired mountain vallies in such a manner us 

 to leave no doubt, that it is a true n^^tive. But from my 

 knowled^ie of what the German botanists call hicolor. I can- 

 xiot believe this plant the same, and have ttierefore prefer- 

 red the nnme tenella^ which Muhlenberg gave to some 

 yoimg specimens, I presume. The appearance of ours is 

 indeed very different, early in spring, when it first be:|in5 

 to blossom, from what it assumes at a later period. It op- 

 pears in March, ai^d is then overloaded with rotundate 

 spathulate leaves arising from the root and low stem — and 



PO 



