WILD PANSY. 58 



Wild Pansy (Viola tricolor). 



We have already given the general characters of the Violet 

 family on page 4, where the reader was referred to this page 

 for a notice of the British species other than V. odorata. The 

 present species, V. tricolor, differs from all the others in the 

 fact that the two upper petals are very erect instead of leaning 

 forward, and in the stipules being developed into large leaf-like 

 organs. In addition, this species produces none of the 

 cleistogamous flowers. The leaves, too, assume forms very 

 different from those of the typical species. The flowers vary 

 from white, through yellow to purple, or there may be a 

 mixture of two or more of these tints. They grow in pastures 

 and the waste corners of various fields, flowering from May to 

 September, and are generally distributed. The other species 

 are : 



I. Marsh Violet ( V. palustris). Growing among Sphagnum in bogs. Flowers 

 lilac or white, scentless, and with short blunt spur. April to July. 



II. Hairy Violet (V. hirta). Similar to V. odorata, but more compact, more 

 hairy, the leaves narrower and more deeply toothed ; spur long, hooked. Odour 

 slight or wholly wanting. A local species occurring in dry soils. April to June. 



III. Dog Violet (V. canina). Rootstock produced into a distinct stem, bearing 

 flowers. Sepals narrow, pointed. Leaves not enlarging after flowering, as do 

 those of V. odorata, palustris, and hirta ; on long foot-stalks. Plant more or less 

 smooth. Flowers from April to August, on banks everywhere. 



IV. Wood Violet (V. sylvatica). Plant smooth. Central rootstock short, with 

 a rosette of leaves, from which branches are given off all round. From these 

 branches only are flowers produced. Spur short and broad. Leaves broad. Copses 

 and woods. March to July. Often closely resembling V. canina^ of which it may 

 be only a variety. 



V. Sand Violet (V. arenaria). A very rare, compact, hairy plant. Leaves 

 much rounder than the preceding. Petals broad, pale blue. Spur short. Recorded 

 from Upper Teasdale and Westmoreland only ; flowering in May and June. 



Round-leaved Mint (Mentha rotundifolia). 



Everybody knows a Mint when he comes upon it, by reason 

 of its pungent odour, well represented by Spear-mint (Mentha 



