VIOLACEJE. 47 



R. Phyteuma L. Mignonette. Annual or biennial, pale green. Leaves 

 oboval-oblong, entire, the intermediate ones trifid. Flowers whitish, in loose 

 racemes when developed ; petals 6. Pedicels equalling the calyx, which is much 

 developed finally. Stamens 16-20. Capsules pendent, large, oboval. 



Waste, places and cultivated ground, common. February-October. 



R. Ill tea L. Cut-leaved Mignonette. Biennial, about a foot high. Leaves 

 very variable, deeply divided ; intermediate ones multifid, lower leaves entire or 

 tripartite. Pedicels longer than the calyx. Flowers greenish yellow, in dense 

 raceme. Sepals and petals 6, very unequal. Capsule oblong, 3 toothed. 



Fields and waste places, especially on limestone. April-July. 



R. Luteola L. Dyer's Rocket. Annual or biennial, glabrous, 2-3 ft. high, 

 erect. Leaves linear-lanceolate, entire but slightly undulate. Flowers yellow- 

 green, in long spike-like racemes. Petals 3-5, irregular. Disk large, crenate. 

 Stamens 20-24. Capsule short, 3 lobed, nearly globular. 



Walls and waste places. May-August. Rare in both Departments. 



R. alba L. = R. suffruticulosa L. White Mignonette. Annual or bi- 

 ennial, i to 2 ft. high, shrubby at base. Leaves pinnatisect, undulate, glaucous 

 and fleshy. Pedicels shorter than calyx. Flowers white, in long dense racemes ; 

 petals 5. Stamens 12-14. Capsule eject, oblong, 4 toothed. 



Maritime sands, rare. April-July. Near Hyeres at Almanarre and Isthmus de 

 Giens, Toulon, etc. 



VIOLA L. 



* The two upper petals directed forwards (Violet). 



V. arborescens L- Shrubby Violet. Plant caulescent, covered with 

 greyish hairs. Stems semi-ligneous, very leafy above. Leaves linear-lanceolate, 

 entire or toothed. Stipules linear, entire, i length of the leaves. Peduncles 

 without bracts. Sepals lanceolate-acute, ciliate. Flowers small, pale violet ; 

 spur short ; stigma sharply hooked. 



Sandy woods and maritime sands in the Var ; rare. September, October. 

 Saint-Cyr and Six-Fours near Cap Negre. 



V. hirta L. Hairy Violet. Leaves subtriangular-cordate, deeply crenate 

 and with shallow sinus, pubescent. Sepals obtuse. Spur long and hooked, style 

 hooked ; stigma oblique. Flowers inodorous or sometimes faintly scented, 

 violet or rarely white. 



Grassy places among the hills, local. April. 



V. odorata L. Sweet Violet. Runners long. Leaves broadly cordate, 

 rounded at top, slightly hairy or downy. Sepals obtuse. Spur nearly straight ; 

 style hooked ; stigma oblique, fruiting peduncle deflexed. Flowers violet, rarely 

 white or pinkish, sweet scented. 



Hedges, woods, and fields, common. January-April. 



V. alba Bess. This is distinguished from V. odorata by its narrow stipules 

 with long fringes, its longer and more pointed leaves, its non-rooting stolons 

 producing flowers the same year, and by its more hispid capsules. Flowers 

 white, rarely variegated, scented. 



Borders of fields, wood and hills, less common. February-April. 



V. silvestris Lamk. Wood Violet. Leaves cordate, slightly acuminate, 

 nearly glabrous. Stipules linear-lanceolate, fringed. Flowers pale violet or 

 bluish, inodorous. Spur narrow. Sepals very acute. Stigma acute, recurved. 

 Capsule glabrous. 



Woods and fresh shady places. March, April. 



V. Riviniana Reichb. and V. arenaria DC. also occur in places. 



