641 



is the V. flavicornis of Smith's herbarium. In its intermediate form 

 it is the " Surrey Violet," several times mentioned in the ' Phytolo- 

 gist.' In a larger form it becomes the V. Ruppii, judging by Mr. 

 Borrer's garden plant so named. And I presume it to be the two va- 

 rieties, montana and Ruppii, of Babington's Viola canina. it has 

 not been figured in ' English Botany ;' the dwarf form of Gerarde's 

 violet having been there erroneously substituted for the dwarf form of 

 the present species, as above intimated. The early flowering state, 

 and the later seeding state of the "Surrey Violet," might readily be 

 mistaken for different species. 



3. Smittis Violet closely resembles Dillenius' violet, particularly in 

 its smaller forms. It is to be distinguished by its narrower leaves, 

 inclining to lanceolate, though variable in form ; and they are rarely, 

 if ever, cordate at the base. The flowers are paler. The capsule is 

 proportionally shorter and blunter. But I do not feel myself yet suf- 

 ficiently acquainted with the range of variation in this species to 

 speak confidently of its distinctive characters. It is figured in 'Eng- 

 lish Botany,' 445 ; and the living plant from Mr. Borrer's garden cor- 

 responds pretty well with that figure ; but in my own garden its 

 flowers have hitherto been apetalous, and the plant remains small, 

 being as yet kept in a small flower-pot. I am indebted to the Rev. 

 W. A. Leighton for a dried specimen from his garden, taken from a 

 Sussex plant of V. lactea, given to him by Mr. Borrer, and which has 

 expanded to thrice the size, and appears to form a connecting link 

 from V. lactea to V. stagnina. Several of the localities recorded for 

 V. lactea either produce both this and the preceding species, or else 

 belong properly to Dillenius' violet. These three species vary much 

 in luxuriance, and their varieties have been described under different 

 names. The following list may aid in showing their nomenclature: — 



I. Gerarde's Violet = V. canina of Smith, Hooker, &c. 



1. (Luxuriant) = V. sylvatica of Bab. Man. ed. 2. 



2. (Ordinary) = V. canina of Eng. Bot. 620; rather large. 



3. (Dwarf) = V. flavicornis of Eng. Bot. Sup. 2736. 



II. Dillenius' Violet = V. canina of Bab. Man. (in part). 



1. (Luxuriant) = V. Ruppii of Mr. Borrer's garden. 



2. (Ordinary) = V. canina, var. montana, of Bab. Man. 



3. (Dwarf) = V. flavicornis of Smith's herbarium. 



Vol. hi. 4 o 



