VIOLACEJE. (VIOLET FAMILY.) 33 



1. VIOLA, Tourn. VIOLET. HEART'S-EASE. 



Sepals nearly equal, produced at the base into a free appendage. Petals un- 

 equal, the lower one produced into a sac or spur at the base. Stamens short 

 the broad filaments membranaceous and prolonged above the anthers ; the two 

 anterior ones spurred on the back. Stigma often beaked. Low herbs. Pe- 

 duncles 1 -flowered. 



1. Leaves and peduncles arising from a subterranean rhizoma, without apparent 

 stems : perennials, flowering in early spring, the later flowers apetalous. 



* Flowers blue or purple* 



1. V. CUCUllata, Ait. Smooth or pubescent ; leaves long-petioled, all 

 undivided, varying from cordate-ovate to reniform, serrate, the sides at the base 

 involute when young ; the later ones acutish ; lateral petals bearded ; stigma 

 beakless. Low ground, common. Flowers blue, often variegated with white. 



2. V. palmata, L. Downy or hairy, rarely smooth ; earliest leaves entire, 

 cordate or reniform; later ones variously 3- 9-lobed, the central lobe always 

 largest, lanceolate or oblong, the lateral ones spreading ; flowers large, with the 

 lateral and lower petals bearded. Dry soil, common. Flowers purple or 

 blue. 



3. V. Villosa, Walt. Downy ; leaves prostrate, short-petioled, orbicular or 

 broadly cordate, crenate, purple- veined ; peduncles mostly shorter than the 

 leaves, flowers small. Dry sandy or gravelly soil, Florida to North Carolina. 

 Flowers pale blue. 



4. V. sagittata, Ait. Smoothish; leaves cordate-oblong, acute, toothed 

 and somewhat sagittate at the base, the earliest ones rounded, short-petioled ; 

 lateral petals bearded. Damp pastures in the upper districts and northward. 

 Flowers larger than in the last, deep blue. 



5. V. pedata, L. Smoothish ; leaves all 7 - 9-parted, the divisions linear- 

 lanceolate, entire or toothed, narrowed downward ; petals beardless. Dry 

 sandy soil in the middle and upper districts, and northward. Flowers large, 

 deep blue or purple. 



* * Flowers white. 



6. V. primulsefolia, L. Smooth or hairy ; leaves oblong, mostly acute, 

 crenate, cordate or abruptly decurrent on the winged petiole ; petals often acute, 

 the lower ones bearded and striped with purple. Low grounds, common. 

 Rhizoma slender, and commonly bearing long leafy runners. Flowers small. 



7. V. lanceolata, L. Smooth or pubescent ; leaves lanceolate or linear, 

 narrowed into the long and winged petioles ; flowers beardless. Low pine bar- 

 rens. Florida and northward. Rhizoma like the last. 



8. V. blanda, Willd. Minutely pubescent; rhizoma slender; leaves small, 

 orbicular-cordate, crenate, shorter than the peduncles ; flowers small, beardless, 

 sweet-scented, the lower petal striped with purple. Low ground and meadows, 

 North Carolina and northward. Petioles slender, wingless. Leaves rarely 

 acute. 



