A 
1898] EASTERN ACAULESCENT VIOLETS 339 
possum.” In the light of this declaration I had always con- 
sidered V. affints a synonym of V. cucullata, the “ preceding 
species ’’ referred to by Le Conte. Nevertheless, having since 
examined the latter’s colored drawing of PV; affinis, | am inclined 
to agree with Professor Greene that the species is a distinct one, 
but I would refer to it a plant which to the best of my knowl- 
edge does not grow in the District of Columbia, but is of north- 
ward distribution. It is an inhabitant of shaded wet rocks, and 
has pale bluish-purple flowers (‘‘ basi albidis ’’ as Le Conte says), 
and yellowish-green leaves shaped more like those of ovata 
(‘foliis ovatis cordatis ”’) than like those of most violets belong- 
ing to the CoMMUNES. 
VIOLA VILLosA Walt. FI. Car. 219. 1788. 
V, cucullata var. cordata Gray, Man. 78. 1867. [Ed. 5.| 
V. palmata var. villosa Robinson in Gray, Syn. F]. N. Am. 1: 196. 1895. 
In spite of the undivided foliage of this plant it suggests the 
HETEROPHYLL& more than the Communes. Happily there is no 
difference of opinion of the applicability of the name, although 
the latter is not well chosen as the leaves are hirsute rather than 
villous. The flowers show more of a reddish tinge than those 
of any other violet with which I am familiar. 
Vioxa sacitrata Ait. Hort. Kew. 3: 287. 1789. 
This species was thoroughly well known and understood until 
it was made a general receptacle for other species of the same 
group. It was never characterized as ‘“ polymorphous ” by either 
Elliott, Schweinitz or Le Conte, although in recent years it has 
been a stumbling block for many a student of the Violacee. As 
a matter of fact there is no violet more constant or unvarying 
either in foliage or habitat. It may be recognized by the very 
dark purple flowers, distinctly sagittate, narrowly oval, usually 
glabrous leaves, the petioles of which always exceed the flower- 
ing scapes. It chooses wet, springy spots along brooks as its 
favorite location, although it is frequently found in moist 
meadows. 
