Viola. VIOLACE^. 69 



1. VIOLA. Linn.; Gingins in DC.prodr. 1. p. 291 ; Endl. gen. 5040. riOLET. 



[A name of obscure origin.] 



Sepals more or less auricled 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 tlien 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 stems produce, late in the season, apetalous 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 tofering from the summit to the base : anthers oblong ; torus fiattish. Gingins. 



♦ Acaulescent, 



1. Viola pedata, Linn. Pedate Violet. 



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

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

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

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

 DC.prodr. l.p. 291 ; LeConte, mon. Viol, in ann. lye. N. York, 2. p. 147 ; Hook. ft. Bor.- 

 Am. 1. /». 74 ; Graham in Edin. new phil. jour. Jan. 1833 ; Torr. 4" Gr- ft- N. Am. 1. 

 p. 136. V. flabellifolia, Lodd. hot. cab. t. 111. 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 oblanccolatc, sometimes very narrow. Stipules ciliate. 

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

 variegated, and rarely almost while. Stigma a little longer than tlic 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. Palmate Violet. 



Plant pubescent ; leaves cordate, palmately or haslately lobcd (the early ones sometimes 

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



