VIOLACF.^E. (violet FAMILY.) 77 



ing the ovarv, nml lio.iriiij; a broad pland on the lower siilc. Style hooked at 

 the summit. — A lioiiiuh- perennial herb, with stems leafy to the to]), ami 1 -:^ 

 small "greenish -white Howers in the axils, on short reenrved i)edieels. (Named 

 in honor of IT. S(i/,\ author of an essay on the British Mints.) 



1. S. COncolor, (jinj^. (Viola eoneolor, I'urs/i, ice.) — Wood.^ New 

 York to Iliiiiuis and southward. June. — Plant l°-2° hiyh. Leaves oblong, 

 pointed at both ends, entire. I'od 1' long. 



2. VIOLA, L. Violet. IIeart's-ease. 



Sepals extended into cars at the base. Petals somewhat unequal, the lower 

 onc spurred at the base. Stamens eloscly surrounding the ovary, often slightly 

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

 the spur of the corolla. Besides these conspicuous blossoms, which appear in 

 spring, others are i)rodueed later (especially in the stemless species), on shorter 

 peduncles or on runners, usually concealed under the leaves ; these never open 

 nor develop petals, but arc fertilized in the young bud, producing pods which 

 are fiir more fruitful than the ordinary blossoms. (The ancient Latin name of 

 the genus.) 



§L Stemi.icss Violkts : tlie leaves ami scopes aJl from a mhtcrnmean roolstock, 



Jioicei-iiuj in early spriiir/, and l>eariii(j fruitful, apetalous flowers all summer. 



* Flowers yellow : rootstock creepiny and produciny summer runnas. 



1. V. rotundif61ia, Miehx. (Rouxd-leaved Violkt.) Leaves roiind- 

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

 brown lines ; spur very short. — Cold woods, Maine to Michigan, and south 

 along the Allcghanies — Snioothish : leaves 1' broad at flowering, increasing to 

 3' or 4' in the summer, then lying flat on the ground, shining above. 



* * Flowers ivhite (small, short-spurred) ; lower petals striped with lilac veins: root- 



stock creepiny and produciny summer runners or subterranean flliform hianclies. 

 (No. 2 and No. 4, however different, seem to be connected by No. 3.) 



2. V. lanceolita, L. (Laxce-leaved Violet.) Smooth; leaves Ian- 

 croliite, erect, blunt, tnpiriny into a lony-maryined petiole, almost entire ; petals 

 beardless. — Damp soil, Maine to Illinois, Kentucky, and southward ; com- 

 mon eastward. 



3. V. primulsefblia, L. (PniMnosE-LEAVED V.) Smooth or a little 

 pubescent ; liaves olilmiy or orate, ulniipl or somewhat htartshaped at the base; 

 petals often acute, the lateral ones usually sparingly bearded. (V. acuta, Bige- 

 low.) — Damp soil ; with No. 2. 



4. V. blanda, Willd. (Sweet White V.) Leaves round-lieartshapcd or 

 kidney-form, minutely pubescent ; petals mostly beardless. — Damp ])laees, every- 

 where, Maine to Wisconsin and Kentucky. — Flowers faintly sweet-scented. 



* * # Flowers purplish or violet: rootstocks slender and creepiny, oflen produciny 



numeivus summer runners. 

 V. ODon\TA, L. (Sweet or Kx(;lish Violet), cultivated in gardens, 

 from Europe, belongs to this section, and is becoming spaiingly spontaneous 

 in 5ome places. 



