58 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



7. V. palmata, L. (Hand-shaped Violet.) Leaves varying from broad 

 cordate to reniforni, repand toothed, sparingly cucullate at base. Whole plant 

 slightly pubescent. Early leaves purple underneath. Growing in dry grounds 

 and open woods. 6 to 10 inches high. 



Form No. 2. Early leaves broad cordate, or reniform, somewhat fleshy, on 

 short petioles, under side frequently purple, serrate toothed, usually 2 or 

 .3 in number, rarely many ; later leaves usually 2-4 in number, on long 

 petioles, 3-lobed, the middle lobe sometimes lanceolate, occasionally with 

 parallel sides, and terminating in a blunt angle, with lateral lobes hatchet- 

 shaped, with the margins sometimes serrate toothed, sometimes deeply cut 

 into 2 or 3 divisions. The whole leaf is frequently divided into narrow 

 parts, approaching V. pedata. Again, the whole margin will be made up of 

 divisions, varying in number from 6 to 12, and from an eighth to half an 

 inch in width, the middle ones generally the broadest, and the incisions ex- 

 tending half-way into the blade. The early leaves are usually smooth, the 

 later ones covered with pubescence. Flowers apetalous and frequently 

 subterranean. 



Geography. — Dry grounds and open woods. May to August. 6 to 12 inches 

 high. 



The author watched this plant closely throughout five successive seasons in 

 the same localities, and it seems to depart from the distinctive characters of 

 V. cucullata as its distance from damp ground increases. He placed speci- 

 mens with divided leaves in the lawn of the Freehold (N. J.) Institute, in damp, 

 rich soil, and in the course of four years they were free from pubescence, the 

 leaves entire, and in every way identical with V. cucullata growing within ten 

 feet of it. He also saw specimens which had been transplanted into a drv, 

 gravelly, rather sterile border, in Flushing, on Long Island, and they retained 

 their pubescence and divided leaves. 



8. V. cucullata, Ait. (Common Blue Violet.) Plant 6 to 12 inches high, 

 flower-stalks frequently as long or longer than the petioles. Leaves glabrous, 

 cordate, rolled in at the base, serrate-crenate, or remotely toothed, those ap- 

 pearing first frequently kidney-shaped, and purple underneath near the base. 

 Flowers blue, large, late ones apetalous and subterranean. Sepals linear, 

 lanceolate; upper one smooth, the others bearded; lateral ones obovate; 

 s])ur short and rounded. April to July. 



Geography. — The distribution of this species is very broad. It is found in 

 the temperate zone quite across the continent of North America. 



Var. striata, Willis. (Streaked or Spotted Violet.) Four to eight inches 

 high. Leaves cordate, frequently reniform, early ones entire or crenate, 

 purple underneath near the base, and glabrous, later ones becoming more 

 and more clothed with hairs, and taking on a lobed form as the season ad- 

 vances, or as the plant creeps up dry hillsides from damp and lower grounds. 

 Flowers few or many, pure white, marked Avith purple lines ; sometimes sprin- 

 kled with purple dots, or splashed with large, irregular, or ragged purple spots, 

 but the lines are always present. Petals very irregular as to size, even in the 

 same plant ; sometimes very small, and sometimes irregularly cut, toothed, or 

 even fringed ; later flowers cleistogamous. 



Geography. — Found sparingly near Freehold, N. J., and more frequently 

 in the vales and on the acclivities among the Gneissic hills about White 

 Plains, N. Y. ; also in the northeastern parts of New Jersey. 



