26 FLORA OF TASMANIA. [Violariece. 
Nat. Ord. VI. VIOLARIEiE. 
This small Natural Order is most abundant in the north temperate zone, where it is represented by 
the herbaceous species ; these are also very plentiful on the Andes of South America, and are compara- 
tively rare in the temperate regions of Australia, Tasmania, and New Zealand. The shrubby genera, again, 
of the Order are generally tropical ; a few of them are however found in the south temperate zone, as 
HymenantAera, Melicytus (in New Zealand), Ionidium, and Cilriobatus. About twenty Australian Violariece 
are known, of which several are tropical. Pigea is the largest genus amongst them, containing ten species, 
natives of South-eastern and South-western Australia, but none of these have hitherto occurred in Tasmania. 
Gen. I. YIOLA, L. 
Sepala 5, basi producta. Petala 5, insequalia, posticum basi saccatum v. calcaratum. Stamina 5 ; 
anthera adnatse, connectivo apice explanato, duarum anteriorum connectivis dorso in appendices intra calcar 
reconditos productis, rarissime nudis. Stylus clavatus. Capsula 1-locularis, 3-valvis; seminibus plurimis, 
placentis parietalibus 3 adnexis. — Herbee, foliis alternis v. rosulatis ; pedunculis axillaribus, solitariis, uni- 
Jloris, bilracteolatis ; floribus inlerdum unisexvalibus. 
The species of this genus are very variable in all parts of the world, and the Tasmanian are no less so than 
others. These belong to two sections, differing chiefly in habit, and not at all in generic characters. — Perennial 
herbs, rarely with shrubby stems, often tufted, with rosulate, always stipulate, leaves. Flowers solitary, on axillary 
bracteate peduncles, sometimes imperfect and unisexual. Sepals five, unequal, produced at the base. Petals 
five, unequal, with short claws and spreading limbs, the lower produced behind into a spur or sac. Anthers with 
flat terminal connectives, united into a tube ; the two lower with the connective produced behind into spurs, which 
are lodged in that of the lower petal. Ovary one-celled, with three many-ovuled parietal placenta?,. Style club- 
shaped. Stigma often concave. Capsule one-celled, three-valved, many-seeded. Seeds globose, with an elevated 
raphe, often canmculated, and a hollow apical chalaza. Embryo orthotropous in the axis of fleshy albumen. 
(Name probably from ioj>, the Greek name of the genus.) 
1. Viola hederacea (Lab. Nov. Holl. i. 66. t. 91) ; stolonifera v. stolonibus abbreviatis csespitosa, 
glaberrima v. pubescens, foliis longe petiolatis cuneatis reniformibus cordato-reniformibusve crenatis, stipulis 
ovato- v. lanceolato-subulatis integerrimis lacerisque apicibus glanduligeris, pedunculo solitario elongato medio 
bibracteolato unilioro, sepalis lineari-oblongis acutis basi incrassatis subproductis, petalis intus barbatis, in- 
feriore subtus gibboso, stylo columnari basi geniculate— DC. Prodr. i. 305. {Gunn, 95, 95 ?, 1942.) 
Var. a ■ caule abbreviate, stolonibus elongatis, foliis reniformibus subrotundisve.— V. hederacea, Lab 
I. c.j Reichb. HoL Bot. *. 110. 
Var. £. Sieberi; caulibus stoloniferis densis, foliis cuneatis rhombeisve.— V. Sieberi, Hoot Comp.Bot. 
Mag. i. 274, Jburn. Bot. ii. 406. V. spathulata, Sieb. Plant. Exsicc. 426. 
Var. 7. petiolaris j foliis longius petiolatis cordato-reniforinibus.— DC. I. c; Sieb. Plant. Exsicc. ». 181. 
Hab. Throughout the Island; all the states very common.— (Fl. Oct. Nov.) (v. v.) 
Distrib. New South Wales and South-eastern Australia. 
After a very attentive examination of all the forms of this plant in a bring state, I feel convinced that they are 
referable to one common variable species, which grows in wet and dry, shaded and exposed, alpine and lowland 
situations, on pastures, roadsides, and sandy heaths. Mr. Gunn, who has sent copious specimens and full notes, comes 
to the same conclusion, and says that he has vainly endeavoured to limit even the varieties. The prominent differ- 
ences are— (1) the perfectly glabrous and very pubescent forms, the latter frequenting drier soil ; (2) the form of 
