16 FLORA OF NEW ZEALAND. [Fiolariee. 
capsule bursting elastically and discharging the seed. The New Zealand species have been referred to the genus 
Erpetion, DC., which only differs in the lower petal having a very short spur. The genus is found sparingly in 
Australia, Tasmania, and Fuegia; abundantly in the North temperate zone, and in mountainous countries generally, 
especially of South America. The species, wherever they occur, are very difficult to distinguish from one another. 
(Name cov in Greek, whence Viola in Latin.) 
1. Viola filicaulis, Hook. fil.; glaberrima, tenella, repens, stolonifera, stipulis subulato-lanceolatis 
fimbriato-laceris, petiolis gracilibus, foliis late ovatis profunde cordatis obtusis crenatis, pedunculis 1-floris 
supra medium bibracteolatis, sepalis lanceolatis accuminatis apice subserratis, petalis spathulatis inferiore 
basi gibboso. : 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands. Mount Egmont, Diefenbach; Eastern Mountains, Colenso; and 
Otago, Lyall. 
A slender smooth plant, sending out long rooting runners. Stipules deeply cut and fimbriate, the segments 
with glandular apices. Petioles and leaves very variable in length and size, the former one-half to two inches long, the 
latter half an inch long, broadly cordate, blunt, crenate, membranous. Peduncles much longer than the leaves. 
Flowers white or pale blue, one-fourth to nearly two-thirds of an inch across. Very distinct from any New Zealand 
and Australian plant; it may be recognized at once by its creeping habit and fimbriated stipules, — It is very nearly 
allied to a Ceylon and Peninsular Indian species. 
2. Viola Cunninghamii, Hook. fil.; glaberrima, acaulis v. caulescens, statura variabilis, foliis omnibus 
radicalibus v. e caulibus brevibus elongatisve prostratis, stipulis lineari-oblongis acutis integerrimis, petiolis 
elongatis, foliis late ovatis oblongisve rarius spathulatis basi in petiolum angustatis v. profunde cordatis 
obtusis obscure crenatis, pedunculis folio equilongis longioribusve supra medium bibracteolatis, floribus 
ut in Y. filicaule sed minoribus. Erpetion spathulatum, 4. Cunn. Prodr. non G. Don, nec Viola Sieberiana, 
Spreng. 
Var. a. multiceps; caulibus e radice plurimis brevibus, petiolis elongatis 2—8 uncialibus, foliis late 
triangulari-ovatis basi subcordatis in petiolum angustatis. 
Var. B. radicata; radice valido multicipite, caulibus brevissimis, petiolis 3-2 unc. longis, foliis ovato- 
spathulatis v. subtrapeziformibus interdum minimis. 
Var. y. gracilis; caulibus paucis elongatis, petiolis 2-8 unc. longis gracilibus, foliis membranaceis 
late ovatis profunde cordatis v. basi truncatis ad apicem petioli dilatatis. 
Has. Northern and Middle Islands; on the plains and mountains; very common, A. Cunning- 
ham, ete. 
Quite as variable a plant as the Dog Violet, Viola canina (which it a good deal resembles), is in Europe. In 
a dry soil, or in exposed places, the root becomes thick and woody; the stems are then very short and numerous, 
with many rather coriaceous leaves. In shaded and more favoured places, and amongst long grass, etc., the root 
is often weaker and the stems longer, with very long petioles, and broad membranous leaves. It is best recognized 
by its never creeping or throwing out stolones or suckers, and by its entire stipules; for in stature (from 1-10 
inches high), texture, size, and form of leaf, and size of flowers, it varies extremely. It differs from Y. Sieberiana of 
New Holland in its wanting stolones; but the var. radicata very closely resembles another Tasmanian species. 
Leaves on long petioles, broadly ovate or oblong, narrowed into the petiole, or cordate at the base, blunt, 
obtusely erenate. Peduncles as long or longer than the leaf, with two bracteoles above the middle. Flowers as in 
V. filicaulis. 
