1 6 FLOWERS OF THE FIELDS AND MEADOWS 



established itself. Its present dispersal is no doubt due in a measure 

 to the former practice of using the plant for growing in pots indoors 

 (hence the Latin specific name). 



The Dame's Violet is found in meadows often in or near thickets, 

 but seldom very far away from houses or gardens. It may, when the 

 seeds have been carried downstream or dispersed by birds, be found 

 in moist valleys in the west, as Shropshire, in some abundance, but 

 as a rule its occurrence coincides with habitation. 



Of neat habit, Dame's 

 Violet has a stout stem, 

 erect, branched at the top 

 only, with linear-lanceolate 

 leaves, which are alter- 

 nate, entire, and slightly 

 toothed, giving it a com- 

 pact habit, which with its 

 height gives it an air of 

 grace, added to which the 

 fragrance of the flowers 

 at night (hence the first 

 Latin name) surrounds 

 the plant with pleasant 

 memories. 



The flowers are of a 

 deep lilac or white tint, 

 and large, the sepals being- 

 erect. The petals are 

 blunt at the tip with a 

 claw or stalk. The pods 

 are long siliquae, which 

 are erect and round, and the flow r ering branches are spreading. 

 The valves are flat on the sides, ribbed or keeled, with three nerves, 

 and there are numerous margined seeds. The pods have divisions 

 or are knotted. 



The plant is often 2 to 3 ft. high. It is usually in flower from 

 May to August. Dame's Violet is perennial (according to many 

 biennial), and is a deciduous, herbaceous plant increased by division. 



As the Latin name implies it is especially odoriferous in the 

 evening, and therefore is probably usually fertilized by moths, although 

 it is visited by day by insects such as the hive bee, Large White 

 Butterfly (Pieris brassicce), Small White Butterfly (P. rape?}, Green- 



. J. H. Crabtr 



DAME'S VIOLET (Hcsperis matronalis, L.) 



