Vols 40 See No. 6 
BULLETIN 
OF THE 
TORREY BOTANICAL CLUB 
ee 
JUNE, 1913 
Four hybrids of Viola pedatifida 
Ezra BRAINERD 
(WITH PLATES 15-17) 
The hybrids between Viola pedatifida and allied species are 
in several respects the most interesting among the 75 or 80 that 
have appeared in the genus as represented in North America. 
At least two of the four are remarkably hardy, almost immune 
from attacks of fungus, and comparatively fertile; they are there- 
fore well suited for experimental cultures. The marked contrast 
in leaf outline displayed in the parents of the several crosses 
affords a fine opportunity for studying in detail the many diverse 
forms of leaf that emerge in the offspring of the hybrid. The other 
opposed parental characters, relating to pubescence, color of 
capsule, color of seed, length of peduncle, and villosity of spur 
petal, also lead to results well worthy of careful study. 
One of these hybrid plants I have had in hand for eight seasons 
and have raised from it over 450 offspring, extending through four 
generations. It was discovered at Yorkville, Ill., May 1905, by 
Miss Mary O. Pollard, a former pupil, and may be briefly described 
as follows: 
1. Viola papilionacea X pedatifida hyb. nov. 
Rootstock stout, at length extensively branching horizontally; 
leaves broadly deltoid-ovate in outline, cleft into 7-11 linear or 
oblong lobes, the middle lobe much the widest, glabrous, though 
the margins are often scabro-ciliolate; petals violet, the odd one 
more or less villous; cleistogamous flowers on erect or ascending 
peduncles, intermediate in length to those of the parent species; 
capsules 8-12 mm. long, infertile, averaging in 12 capsules 8 
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