Viola. VIOLACEiE. 69 



1. VIOLA. Linn.; Gingins in DC. prodr. 1. p. 291 ; Endl. gen. 504lO. violet. 



[A name of obscure origin.] 



Sepals more or less auriclcd at the base. Petals unequal ; the superior (by inversion inferior) 

 one spurred at the base ; the 2 lower ones with appendages on the back, which are con- 

 cealed in the spur : anthers connate, the lobes diverging at the base. Ovary sometimes 

 surrounded at the base by the concave torus, and then apparently half inferior. Capsule 

 bursting elastically. Seeds horizontal, with an evident caruncle. — Low herbaceous plants, 

 with a short subterraneous stem or rhizoma (and then called acaulescent or stemless), or 

 caulescent. Leaves alternate. Peduncles angular, solitary, one-flowered, furnished with 

 2 small bracteoles, recurved at the summit, so that the flower is resupinate or nodding. — 

 The species with subterraneous sto.ms produce, late in the season, apctalous flowers on 

 short stolons or scapes, which are often concealed beneath the surface of the ground, but 

 bear perfect fruit. 



^ 1. Stigma rostrate; the beak more or less, with an orifice at the extremity, margined or convex on 

 the back: style tapering from the summit to the base: anthers oblong ; torus flattish. Gingins. 



* Acaulescent. 



1. Viola pedata, Linn. Pedate Violet. 



Plant nearly smooth ; leaves pedately about 7-parted ; segments cuneate-lanceolate, entire 

 or incisely 3-toothed at the summit ; stigma large and thick, margined, obliquely truncate, 

 the beak very short ; petals all smooth. — Michx.Jl. 2. p. 151 ; Bot. mag. t. 89 ; Pursh,Jl. 1. 

 p. 171 ; Schwein. mon. Viol, in Sill, jour: 5. p. 50; Ell. sk. l.p. 300; Torr.Jl. l.p. 249 ; 

 DC.prodr. l.p. 291 ; LeConie, mon. Viol, in ann. lye. N. York, 2. p. 147; Hook. Jl. Bar. - 

 Am. 1. p. 74 ; Graham in Edin. new phil. jour. Jan. 1833 ; ToiT. <^ Gr: Jl. N. Am. 1. 

 p. 136. V. flabellifolia, Lodd. bot. cab. t. 777. V. digitata, Pursh, I. c. 



Rhizoma thick and fleshy. Leaves of a firm texture : three of the divisions extend to the 

 base of the lamina ; the lateral ones 3-, sometimes 4-parted ; the segments varying in breadth, 

 usually more or less cuneiform or oblanceolate, sometimes very narrow. Stipules ciliate. 

 Scapes 3-5 inches high. Flowers nearly an inch in diameter, usually bright blue, sometimes 

 variegated, and rarely almost white. Stigma a little longer than the stamens. 



Dry sandy soils. May - June. A beautiful and pretty common species in the neighbor- 

 hood of New- York and on Long Island, but rare in the interior of the State. 



2. Viola palmata, Linn. . Pahnate Violet. 



Plant pubescent ; leaves cordate, palmately or hastately lobed (the early ones sometimes 

 entire) ; lobes crenate and toothed, the middle one much the largest ; stigma capitate-triangu- 



