CL. T.] PENTANDEIA MONOGYNIA. 127 



25. IMPATIENS. TOUCH-ME-NOT. 



Calyx inferior, small, of two roundish, concave, unequal, de- 

 ciduous leaves. Corolla of rive unequal petals ; the upper 

 roundish, flat, erect, three-cleft, forming the upper lip ; the 

 two lower very large, reflected, obtuse, irregular, forming the 

 lower lip ; the middle two opposite, at the base of the upper 

 lip, sometimes wanting ; nectary of one leaf, tubular, oblique 

 at the mouth, the upper edge of which is attached to the recep- 

 tacle, tapering at the base into a curved spur. Filaments very 

 short, incurved; anthers united at the base. Germen egg- 

 shaped, pointed. Style none j stigma undivided, short. Cap- 

 sules egg-shaped, five-celled, five-valved. Seeds oval, attached 

 to a central column. So named because the capsule, impatient 

 of being touched, opens when handled. 110. 



1. /. Noli-me -tang ere. Touch-me-not. Yellow Balsam. Flowers 

 on branched axillar stalks ; leaves egg-shaped, serrate, stalked ; 

 joints of the stem swelling. Stem a foot high, rounded, succu- 

 lent, brittle : flowers large, yellow, internally spotted with red. 

 Annual : flowers in July and August : grows in watery places in 

 the north of England, but is not indigenous. Eng. Bot. vol. xiv. 

 pi. 937. Eng. FL vol. i. p. 300. 344. 



26. VI'OLA. VIOLET. 



Calyx inferior, of five oblong, acute, equal, erect, permanent 

 leaves, produced downwards beyond their insertion ; two of 

 them under the uppermost petal, one under each of the lateral 

 petals, and one under the two lower. Corolla irregular, of five 

 unequal petals ; the uppermost broadest, slightly cleft, directed 

 downwards, terminating at the base in a curved spur, project- 

 ing between the leaves of the calyx ; two lateral petals oppo- 

 site, equal, obtuse, straight ; two lower equal, larger, and di- 

 rected upwards. Filaments very small ; anthers broad, close 

 together, obtuse, each with a membranous point. Germen 

 superior, roundish. Style thread-shaped, extending beyond 

 the anthers ; stigma oblique. Capsule egg-shaped, one-celled, 

 three-valved. Seeds several in each cell, egg-shaped, attached 

 to a linear receptacle in the middle of each valve. Name of 

 doubtful origin. 111. 



1. V. hirta. Hairy Violet. Stem none ; leaves heart-shaped, 

 rough with hairs, as well as their stalks ; leaves of the calyx ob- 

 tuse ; lateral petals with a hairy central line. Stipules lance- 

 shaped : flowers solitary, light greyish-blue, streaked with black. 

 Perennial : flowers in April : grows in woods and pastures : com- 

 mon in England ; rare in Scotland. Eng. Bot. vol. xiii. pi. 894. 

 Eng. FL vol. i. p. 302. 345. 



2. V. odordta. Sweet Violet. Stem none; root throwing out 

 creeping runners ; leaves heart-shaped, nearly smooth, as well as 

 their stalks ; leaves of the calyx obtuse ; lateral petals with a hairy 



central line. Stipules lance-shaped, toothed: flowers deep 



purplish-blue, scented. Perennial : flowers in March and April : 

 grows in woods and pastures : frequent in England ; rare in Scot- 

 land. Eng. Bot. vol. ix. pi. 619. Eng. Fl. vol. i. p. 302. 346. 



