42 VIOLACE^E. (VIOLET FAMILY.) 



1. S. Ctincolor, Ging. (Viola concolor, Pursh, &c.) Woods, New 

 York to Illinois and southward. Juno. Plant 1- 2 high. Loaves oblong, 

 pointed at both ends, entire. Pod 1' long: after opening, each valve as it dries 

 folds together lengthwise firmly, projecting the large round seeds to a consider- 

 able distance. The same thing occurs in many Violets. -,^ ; * .-_, 



2. ViOI/A, L. VIOLET. HEARTS-EASE. 



ff *. <."' ' -L/ . ' V v i ' '* i " J . ~ : : A 



Sepals extended or eared at the base. Petals somewhat unequal, the lower 

 one spurred at the base. Stamens closely surrounding the ovary, often slightly 

 cohering with each other; the two lower ones bearing spurs which project into 

 the spur of the corolla. (The ancient Latin name of the genus.) 

 * Stemless ; the leaves and scapes all from subterranean or prostrate rootstocks ; peren- 

 nial. ( Commonly producing apetalous flowers all summer lony, on shorter peduncles 

 concealed under the leaves, or on runners : these ripen seed much more freely than 

 the ordinary blossoms.) 



- Flowers light yellow (small ; spur very short). 



1. V. rotundifolia, Michx. (BOUND-LEAVED VIOLET.) Leaves 

 ronnd-ovate, heart-shaped, slightly crenate ; lateral petals bearded and marked 

 with brown lines. Cold woods, Maine to Michigan, and south along the Allo- 

 ghanies. April, May. Smoothish : leaves 1' broad at flowering, increasing to 

 3' or 4' in the summer, then close pressed to the ground, shining above. 



- Flowers white ; the lower petals veined with lilac : spur short. 



2. V. lanceolata, L. (LANCE-LEAVED VIOLET.) Smooth; leaves 

 lanceolate, erect, blunt, tapering into a lony petiole, almost entire ; petals beardless. 

 Damp soil, Maine to Illinois, Kentucky, and southward ; common near the 

 coast. May. 



3. V. priniulaefolia, L. (PRIMROSE-LEAVED VIOLET.) Smooth or 

 a little pubescent ; leaves oblong or ovate, abrupt or somewhat heart-ahaptd at the 

 base; petals often acute, the lateral ones usually sparingly bearded. (V. acuta, 

 Bigelow.) Damp soil ; with No. 2 : intermediate between it and No. 4. 



4. V. 1>I:tmln, Willd. (SWEET WHITE VIOLET.) Leaves round-Jnart- 

 shaped or kidney-form, minutely pubescent; petals beardless. Damp places, 

 Maine to Wisconsin and Kentucky. April, May. Flowers small, faintly 

 sweet-scented. 



-- t- *- Flowers violet or blue. 



5. V. palustris, L. (MARSH VIOLET.) Smooth ; leaves round-heart- 

 shaped and kidney-form, slightly crenate; flowers (small) pale lilac with ptirplo 

 streaks, nearly beardless; spur very short and obtuse. Alpine summits of the- 

 White Mountains, New Hampshire ; June. (Eu.) 



6. V. Sclkirkii, Goldic. (GREAT-SPURRED VIOLET.) Leaves round- 

 hcart -shaped with a deep narrowed sinus, hairy abov*, lying flat on the ground ; 

 spur marhi <is lonq as the beardless petals, thickened at the end; anther-spurs very 

 long. Shaded hills, W. Massachusetts and the adjacent parts of New York, 

 thence northward. May. A rare and delicate species, 2' high; the flower* 

 large in proportion. 



