DESCRIPTIONS OF THREE MEXK^AN VIOLETS. 



By J. N. Rose and H. D. House, 



Of the Division of Plants. 



Althoiic:h the number of known violets in Mexico is comparatively 

 small, the few that have Ijeen observed are not well understood. 

 Those who have been studying the Mexican flora have long wished for 

 a revision of the species. In the United States National Herbarium 

 considerable material has been brought together for this purpose, but 

 much more is needed before a satisfactory presentation can be made. 

 It is hoped that much information will be obtained by Mr. Rose in his 

 lield work the present season in Mexico. The following notes, how- 

 ever, need not be held for the formal paper which we hope to present 

 at some future time. 



VIOLA FLAGELLIFORMIS Hemsley.« 



Excellent specimens of this rare species have recentl}" been collected 

 at Alvarez in the region of San Luis Potosi and distributed by Dr. 

 Edward Palmer (no. 117, 1902). The type of F. fiagelUformh is 

 Palmer's no. 1033, collected in 1879, " en route from San Luis Potosi 

 to Tampico.'"' Viola pnhescens Ait.^ is credited to Mexico b}^ Hemsley '' 

 upon the strength of Parry & Palmer's no. 36, collected in the region 

 of San Luis Potosi in 1S78, which, however, proves to be identical with 

 the present species. 



Y. fag ell if or mis is denseh^ pubescent with spreading hairs; the 

 root leaves are conspicuous by their number, long petioles, and large 

 orbicular-reniform blades. It differs in many important particulars 

 from the northern Y. jmhescens., but is more nearly related to that 

 than to the following new species from the higher altitudes of central 

 Mexico. 



VIOLA PAINTERI Rose & House, sp. nov. 



Caulescent; apparentl}^ glabrous but more or less puberulent as 

 seen under the lens; stems 2 to 5 from a slender, vertical, perennial 



Proceedings U. S. National Museum, Vol. XXIX— No. 1429. 



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