XII. VIOLARIE^ (OLIVER.) 105 



1. VIOLA, Linn. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 117. 



Sepals nearly equal, gibbous or distinctly produced below the point of in- 

 sertion. Petals spreading, tlie lowest spurred or saccate at the base, usually 

 larger or sometimes rather smaller than the rest ; anthers nearly sessile, the 

 connective produced into a membranous appendage beyond the cells ; two 

 lower stamens usually spurred. Staminodia 0. Style clavate capitate or 

 otherwise dilated, with a terminal or lateral stigma. Capsule dehiscing locu- 

 licidally in 3 valves. Seeds ovoid or globose with a crustaceoua testa. — 

 Herbs. Stipules usually conspicuous. Peduncles axillary, 1 -flowered. Some 

 species bear dimorphic flowers. 



A large and very widely diflFused genus affecting temperate or mountainous regions in bofh 

 hemispheres. Many of the species appear connected by intermediate forms which render 

 them difficult of definition. 



1. V, abyssinica, Steud. in PL Schimp. Abyss. Flowering stems 

 slender diffuse or elongate, prostrate and rooting at intervals. Leaves cor- 

 date or ovate-cordate, usually rather acute, crenulate-serrate, sparsely pubes- 

 cent or nearly quite glabrous, with or without dark oblong linear or irreguhir 

 blotches, ^-1 in. long ; petioles shorter than or equalling the lamina. Sti- 

 pules more or less deeply divided into narrow acute segments. Peduncles 

 pubescent or glabrous, exceeding the leaves. Sepals linear-lanceolate, acute, 

 slightly gibbous at the base. Lower petal deeply and obtusely saccate, the 

 spur sometimes equalling the lamina. Style clavate, obliquely triangular 

 above with a lateral stigmatic tooth. — V. emirnense, Boj. mss. 



Upper Guinea. Fernando Po, 10,000 ft., Camaroous mountain, 7000 ft., Mann I 

 (with impuuctate leaves). 



Nile Ijand. Abyssinia, in mountainous situations, Schimper ! Eotk ! 



The same species, as 1 take it, occurs in Madagascar. V. abyssinica may prove a form 

 of some previously described species when the genus comes to be thoroughly worked up. 

 Schweiufurth (Flora v. Soturba) indicates another Viola from Nubia, yet undescribed. 



2. lONIDIUM, Vent. ; Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. PI. i. 117. 



Sepals not produced at the base. Lower petal larger than the rest, clawed, 

 saccate or gibbous at the base. Anthers sessile ; filaments short, connec- 

 tive produced beyond the cells as a membranous appendage. Two lower 

 stamens with reflexed spurs (in the African species) from their filaments. Sta- 

 minodia 0. Style thickened or clavate with the stigma in front. Capsule 

 coriaceous, dehiscing loculicidally and elastically in 3 valves. Seeds oblong 

 or ovoid ; testa crustaceous striate or smooth. — Herbs or low shrubs. Leaves 

 usually alternate, entire or toothed, with subulate stipules. Peduncles axil- 

 lary, solitary in the African species. 



A rather numerous genu?, principally American. The only tropical African species is 

 widely diffused in the Old World. A few are endemic in Australia and at the Cape. 



1. I. enneaspermum. Vent.; DC. Prod. i. 308. A difl'use decum- 

 bent or erect much-branched herb, from a ^tw inches to 2 ft., often woody 

 below or suffrutescent, son.etimes erect and simple, glabrous scabrid-pubes- 

 cent or shortly hirsute-pubescent. Leaves linear or lanceolate, acute, often 

 iDucronate, narrowed to the base, remotely serrulate or entire, snbsessilc or 



