i88 A GUIDE TO THE WILD FLOWERS 



570. VIOLETS. VIOLA. 



A large group of native violets are found in various situa- 

 tions, but mostly in rich moist woods. Many of them are 

 stemless, the leaf stalk and flower stalk arising directly from 

 the ground. Others have true stems above ground. Leaves 

 characteristically heart-shaped in most species, but sometimes 

 oval or oblong, or divided into segments. Flowers white, 

 violet or yellow, usually solitary, or in very sparse clusters, 

 always spurred and bearded inside in most species. In all 

 except the Bird's-foot Violet, No. 571, there is another set 

 of flowers that are fertile, uncolored, never open, and are 

 borne near the ground. The species hybridize, are difficult to 

 identify, and only the commonest of over 40 sorts are in- 

 cluded here. 



Plants stemless, the leaves and flower stalks arising directly from 

 the ground, 

 Flower of two colors, dark violet and pale lavender, beardless ; 



leaves dissected ; plant of dry sandy places 



Bird's-foot Violet no. 571 



Flower of uniform color, always bearded on the insid*^. 



Flowers yellow Yellow Violet no. 572 



Flowers white. 



Leaves lance-shaped Water Violet no. 573 



Leaves roundish, heart-shaped at the base 



White Violet no. 574 



Flowers pale or deep violet or violet blue 



Roots fibrous, not thickened 



Great Spurred Violet no. 575 



Rootstock thick, not fibrous 

 Leaves not cut, sometimes wavy-margined, or toothed 



Leaves hairy Woolly Blue Violet no. 576 



Leaves not hairy 



Leaves usually 3-4 in. wide 



Common Blue Violet no. 577 



Leaves usually 2^4 in. wide 



Marsh Blue Violet no. 578 



Leaves with the blades more or less deeply cut. 



Leaves cut mostly towards the base 



Arrow-leayed Violet no. 579 



Leaves cut towards the middle 



Early Blue Violet no. 580 



