CL. V/J PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 127 



25. IMPA'TIENS. TOUCH-ME-NOT. 



Calyx inferior, small, of two roundish, concave, unequal, deci- 

 duous leaves. Corolla of five unequal petals; the upper roundish, 

 flat, erect, three-cleft, forming the upper lip ; the two lower very 

 large, reflected, obtuse, irregular, forming the lower lip ; the middle 

 two opposite, at the base of the upper lip, sometimes wanting , 

 nectary of one leaf, tubular, oblique at the mouth, the upper edge 

 of which is attached to the receptacle, tapering at the base into a 

 curved spur. Filaments very short, incurved ; anthers united at 

 the base. Germen egg-shaped, pointed. Style none ; stigma un- 

 divided, short. Capsules egg-shaped, five-celled, five-valved. 

 Seeds oval, attached to a central column. So named because the 

 capsule, impatient of being touched, opens when handled. 110. 



1. /. Noli-me-tangere. Touch-me-not. Yellow Balsam. Flowers on 

 branched axillar stalks ; leaves egg-shaped, serrate, stalked ; joints of 



the stem swelling Stem a foot high, rounded, succulent, brittle : 



flowers large, yellow, internally spotted with red. Annual : flowers in 

 July and August: grows in watery places in the north of England, but 

 is not indigenous. Eng. Bot. vol. xiv. pi. 937. Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 300. 



344. 



26. Vl'OLA. VIOLET. 



Calyx inferior, of five oblong, acute, equal, erect, permanent 

 leaves, produced downwards beyond their insertion ; two of them 

 under the uppermost petal, one under each of the lateral petals, 

 and one under the two lower. Corolla irregular, of five unequal 

 petals; the uppermost broadest, slightly cleft, directed downwards, 

 terminating at the base in a curved spur, projecting between the 

 leaves of the calyx; two lateral petals opposite, equal, obtuse, 

 straight ; two lower, equal, larger, and directed upwards. Fila- 

 ments very small ; anthers broad, close together, obtuse, each with 

 a membranous point. Germen superior, roundish. Style thread- 

 shaped, extending beyond the anthers; stigma oblique. Capsule 

 egg-shaped, one-celled, three-valved. Seeds several in each cell, 

 egg-shaped, attached to a linear receptacle in the middle of each 

 valve. Name of doubtful origin. 111. 



1. V. hirta. Hairy Violet. Stem none ; leaves heart-shaped, rough 

 with hairs, as well as their stalks ; leaves of the calyx obtuse ; lateral 

 petals %vith a hairy central line. Stipules lance-shaped : flowers soli- 

 tary, light greyish-blue, streaked with black. Perennial: flowers in April : 

 grows in woods and pastures : common in England ; rare in Scotland. 

 Eng. Bot. vol. xiii. pi. 894. Eng. Ft. vol. i. p. 302. 345. 



2. V. odordta. Sweet Violet. Stem none ; root throwing out creeping 

 runners; leaves heart-shaped, nearly smooth, as well as their stalks; 



leaves of the calyx obtuse ; lateral petals with a hairy central line. 



Stipules lance-shaped, toothed : flowers deep purplish-blue, scented. 

 Perennial : flowers in March and April : grows in woods and pastures : 

 frequent in England ; rare in Scotland. Eng. Bot. vol. ix. pi. 619. Eng. 

 Fl. vol. i. p. 302. 346. 



