2l6 AMERICAN MIDLAND NATURALIST 



LOPHION CANADHNSE Spach, I. C. p. 5 1 7. 



Viola canadensis Linn. Sp. PI. p. 936, (1753). 



The sepals of the cieistogamous flowers are rather unequal 

 usually, the inner being shorter, all at first firmly pressed against 

 the ovary and stigma, later after fetilization open early, especially 

 at the tips, leaving the apex of the ovary exposed while the five 

 stamens and the petals fall off. Petals which are usually greater, 

 in number (often five), and larger comparably than in the other 

 violets, are not uncommonly present. It is therefore quite in- 

 appropriate to call these aestival flowers apetalous, and more correct 

 to call them cieistogamous. 



Subgenus Eucentrion. 



Lophion rostratum (Push.) Nov. comb. 



Viola rostrata Pursh, PI. Am. Sept. p. 174, (18 14). 



Cieistogamous fruit subglobose obtusely triangular, the 

 carpels broadly carinate, with a slight small channel like depres- 

 sion running from base to apex. Style rather long, recurved at 

 the apex. vSepals subequal lanceolate, glabrous with a rounded 

 short auricle. Later flowers sometimes possessing i — several 

 lanceolate petals about >4 the length of the free upper end of the 

 sepals. Stamens 5 spoon-shaped, spatulate, fruit and ovaries 

 erect on their peduncles, produced at the ends of the branches 

 all summer and fall until winter. 



Subgenus Rhabdotion. 



Lophion striatum (Ait.) Nov. comb. 



Viola striata Ait. Hort. Kew. 3, p. 290, (1789). 



Cieistogamous flowers somewhat erect on their peduncles, 

 with five stamens; these flowers sometimes with small or abortive 

 petals in transition early in summer. Transition flowers fewer 

 and stages more abrupt; sepals rather long very unequal, the 

 outer longest, linear lanceolate with appendages at insertion 

 giving' them a hastate to sagittate appearance, these small 

 appendages are wanting in the inner sepals. vSepals ciliate on 

 margin with long, broad, spreading auricles erose-ciliate, at the 

 free end somewhat pubescent. Style and stigma short closely 

 appressed by the 5 imbricate stamens. Petals in the later summer 

 cieistogamous flowers mostly absent. The anthers of all the cieis- 

 togamous flowers of violets are with scarcely any exceptions two 

 only, instead oj four, seldom three! 



