186 PROSERPINA. 



and exquisitely trim peltate leaf. I never saw such a lovely 

 perspective line as the pure front leaf profile. Impossible also 

 to get the least of the spirit of its lovely dark brown fibre 

 markings. Intensely golden these dark fibres, just browning 

 the petal a little between them." 



And again in the defile of Gondo, I find " Viola (saxatilis?) 

 name yet wanted ; in the most delicate studding of its round 

 leaves, like a small fern more than violet, and bright sparkle 

 of small flowers in the dark dripping hollows. Assuredly de- 

 lights in shade and distilling moisture of rocks." 



I found afterwards a much larger yellow pansy on the 

 Yorkshire high limestones ; with vigorously black crowfoot 

 marking on the lateral petals. 



37. V. VIOLA MONTANA. Mountain Violet. 



Flora Danica, 1329. Linnaeus, No. 13, " Caulibus erectis, 

 foliis cordato-lanceolatis, floribus serioribus apetalis," i.e., on 

 erect stems, with leaves long heart-shape, and its later flowers 

 without petals not a word said of its earlier flowers which 

 have got those unimportant appendages ! In the plate of the 

 Flora it is a very perfect transitional form between violet and 

 pansy, with beautifully firm and well-curved leaves, but the 

 colour of blossom very pale. " In subalpinis Norvegise pas- 

 sim," all that we are told of it, means I suppose, in the lower 

 Alpine pastures of Norway ; in the Flora Suecica, p. 306, hab- 

 itat in Lapponica, juxta Alpes. 



38. VI. VIOLA MIRABILIS. Flora Danica, 1045. A small and 

 exquisitely formed flower in the balanced cinquefoil inter- 

 mediate between violet and pansy, but with large and superbly 

 curved and pointed leaves. It is a mountain violet, but be- 

 longing rather to the mountain woods than meadows. "In 

 sylvaticis in Toten, Norvegise." 



Loudon, 3056, "Broad-leaved: Germany." 



Linnaeus, Flora Suecica, 789, says that the flowers of it which 

 have perfect corolla and full scent often bear no seed, but 

 that the later ' cauline ' blossoms, without petals, are fertile. 

 " Caulini vero apetali fertiles sunt, et seriores. Habitat pas- 

 sim Upsalise." 



I find this, and a plurality of other species, indicated b;y 



