26 



THE ABT ALBUM OF NEW ZEALAND FLORA. 



consists of t\AO groiiiis, those with tloAvers growing from the crown of the apparent 

 stemless plant, and represented by r". odontta, the Sweet Violet, and its varieties ; and 

 tliose with the stems evident, and flowers springing from the axils of the leaves, which 

 are alternate, on more or less branched stems, the latter group represented by V. canina, 

 the Dog Violet, and V. tricolor, the Pansy. The New Zealand species are (1). 

 V-JHicaidis; (2). V. Lyallii ; and (3). V. Cunninghamii. 



1. VIOLA FILICAULIS {Mool-., F.) The Thread Stemmed Violet. 



Specific Charactee. — Vei-r slender, perfectly glabrous. 

 Stems filiform, prostrate or creeping. Leaves alternate, 

 orbicular-cordate, or broadly ovate-cordate, obtuse or acute, 

 obtusely crenate ; petioles 1-3 in. long ; stipules lacerate, the 

 teeth filiform, tipped with a gland ; peduncles very slender, 



tlowered ; bmcts subulate, more or less lacerate like the 

 stipules. Flowers very pale blue, j-J in diam. Sepals linear- 

 lanceolate, acuminate. Spur very short. Ifandbook of New 

 Zealand Flora^ p. 16. 



Descriptiox, etc.— Fig. 1, Plate No. 7.— The "NATIVE VIOLET."— This little 

 plant is common to both the Northern and Middle Islands as far south as Otago, and 

 is abundant in many districts in damj) situations, but in some localities it has nearly 

 disajipeared, 2)articularly in light soils. It has no fragrance, and cannot, as a plant, 

 compare with the European sj^ecies for size or appearance, but it claims the distinction 

 of being a member of the family, and therefore is worthv of oui* attention and regard. 

 It has been introduced into many colonial gardens, and is much cherished for its 

 simple beauty. The species belonging to the order Violariese, and best known, are the 

 Violet and the Heartsease, or Pansy. The Viola odor at a, or common Sweet Violet is a 

 favourite flower in every garden, and has a delightful fragrance. It is a native of 

 Britain, indeed of the whole of Eurojie, and part of Asia, extending it is said even to 

 China and Japan. It is generally believed that this species is the Violet of the ancients, as 

 described by Dioscorides, who recommends it for its medicinal virtues, as well as for 

 its beauty and fragrance. There are numerous varieties of this species, of these some 

 are white, i^ui'ple, and blue ; and some of aU these are double-floAvering. The most in- 

 teresting, and those most generally cultivated, are the varieties knoT^Ti as the Neajiolitan 

 and Russian. The Neapolitan Violet is a pale blue, fragrant, but its chief recom- 

 mendation consists in its generous nature of flowering during winter. The Sweet 

 Violets are Aariable in colour, the flowers being sometimes blue, while sometimes 

 they are white or lilac. The white variety is both the earliest and latest in blooming, 

 and is very sweet scented. The Dog Violets are i:)erhaps so called from their want of 

 scent, and so relegated to the dogs, as a worthless commodity. The endless varieties of 

 Heartsease or Pansy, are derived from the admixture of the cornfield weed, F. tricolor, 

 with the alien species F. altiaca, from Tartary, and F. grandiflora, from Switzerland. 



