VIOLACE.E 



Probably the majority of people enjoy at least a bow- 

 ing acquaintance with this dainty, violet-shaped flower on 

 slender, leafless stem braving the wet of the sphagnum 

 moss. The petals are whitish, and some at least bear the 

 tufts of purple hairs at their base. 



VIOLACE^: VIOLET FAMILY 



Viola papilionacea, Pursh. 



Light purple-pale violet 



Common Violet. 

 May-June 



Viola: for derivation see lanceolata 

 Papilonacea: from Latin for a butterfly. 



THE PREFERRED HABITAT: boggy meadows. 



THE PLANT: from numerous underground root stalks; 

 three to seven inches high; stems tufted, smooth or with 

 very fine hairs. 



THE LEAVES: basal; deep green; cordate; smooth, or on the 

 upper surface with few, short hairs; obtuse at the apex; 

 deeply cut and somewhat coiled at the base; wavingly 

 saw-toothed. 



THE FLOWERS: irregularly shaped; five petals, two of which 

 are beautifully fringed at the throat of the flower; sepals 

 narrowly lanceolate. Other petalless flowers on shorter 

 stems come later; they are fertilized in the bud and are 

 much more fruitful. 



THE FRUIT: a capsule. 



Delicate, irregularly shaped flowers, violet or light 

 purple, poised at the top of smooth stems, that are sur- 

 rounded by a clump of dark green, heart-shaped leaves. 



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