338 BOTANICAL GAZETTE [ NOVEMBER 
no doubt that it is the original cucullata. It is remarkable for 
the very pale blue flowers and light green foliage, which does 
not thrive in late summer like that of other members of the 
Communes, but often collapses so that it is difficult to secure 
specimens showing thc erect cleistogenes. The leaves are 
broader than long, with margins only slightly crenate or dentic- 
ulate, the apex obtuse, and all or most of them cucullate. In 
obliqua, on the other hand, they are rather longer than broad, 
with sinuate-crenate margins and scarcely ac all cucullate. Both 
species grow in moist soil, and both produce erect cleistogenes, 
very different, it will be observed, from V. communis. 1 think I 
have now shown the specific differences existing between the 
latter and its allies. There remain only two other names which 
could be possibly taken up for communis; one of these is V. 
papilionacea of Pursh, which I have seen figured by Le Conte, 
and which is totally different from any violet now known to us; 
the other is V. afinis Le Conte, discussed below. 
VIOLA AFFINIs Le Conte, |. c. p- 138. 
In an issue of Pittonia’ which has just come to hand. Pro- 
fessor Greene makes the following statement concerning V. affinis: 
“ This fine species, common enough in most woodlands of the 
District of Columbia and adjacent Maryland, was identified by 
me to my own satisfaction by Le Conte’s excellent description, 
nearly two years since.” Inasmuch as the description referred 
to is exceedingly brief and the characterization of the foliage as 
“‘foliis ovatis subacuminatis, crenato-dentatis ” might be applied 
with equal propriety to many other violets, it is difficult to under- 
Stand the grounds for Professor Greene’s preemption of the 
name a@ffinis for a species ‘common in most woodlands of the 
District-of Columbia.” It has always seemed to me that Le 
Conte himself places a very effectual obstacle in the way a 
our understanding when he observes at the close of his descrip-_ 
tion “ Nimis praecedenti affinis; nullos characteres distinctivos 
praeter pedunculi brevitatem et latiora calycis sepala invenire 
°3: 337. 
