The Long-Spurred Pansy 



(VIOLA CALCARATA) 



THE Long-Spurred Pansy flowers in June and July, and 

 is a typical Alpine plant. The high mountain pastures are 

 sometimes literally carpeted with its large purple flowers, all 

 turned towards the sun. It is common on sunny slopes and 

 among rocky debris between 5000 and 9000 feet, and 

 prefers a limestone soil. The underground stem of the 

 plant bears at its extremity a small rosette of leaves, and a 

 short flower stalk terminated by the single large flower. The 

 flower, which has a delicate and sweet scent, is usually of a 

 rich purple colour, much more rarely yellow (var. flava). 

 Sometimes the purple becomes paler and a lavender variety 

 results, and, rarest of all, the flower may be pure white. 

 From the many other violets and pansies which are found in 

 Switzerland, the species we are now considering is recognised 

 by its narrow, notched leaves, by the upward direction of 

 the lateral petals, and especially by the long, narrow spur, 

 which is quite as long as the corolla. 



Unlike most of the violets which are fertilised by bees, 

 the Long-Spurred Pansy depends entirely on butterflies for 

 the conveyance of its pollen. The narrow opening to the 

 flower and the long spur, at the bottom of which the honey 

 is concealed, are only suited to insects such as butterflies 

 and moths with relatively long tongues. It is pretty to see 



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