48 Mr, Schwemitz on the Genus Violas 



BOTANY. 



Art. X. — Attempt* of a Monography of the Linnean Ge- 

 nus Viola, comprising all the Species hitherto observed in 

 JVorth-America ; by Lewis D. de Schweinitz, of Sn- 

 lem,j- North- Carolina. 



[Commiinicaled for this Journal.] 

 PRELIMINARY OBSERVATIONS. 



The accession to the Flora of North-America, by the uni- 

 ted efforts of the growing number of able Botanists, is becom- 

 ing such, that a necessity begins to be sensibly felt of review- 

 ing and comparing their labors, in order to avoid that confu- 

 sion of synonymy, which must otherwise inevitably ensue. It 

 is of great importance, more especially in those genera which 

 comprise numerous species, and the annexed disquisition 

 has for its main object, such a comparative review of one of 

 these. The Genus Viola, constituting no contemptible, 

 though no very brilliant contribution towards Flora's vernal 

 wreath among us, evidently labors at present under consid- 

 erable confusion of its numerous species, and their varieties; 

 which is increased by the uncommon degree of variability 

 apparent, even among, the individuals of the same species. 

 An attempt to define and establish these, and to point out 

 such characters for each as may facilitate discrimination, is 

 therefore peculiarly necessary ; and my vicinity affording 

 favorable opportunities of observing the greater part in their 

 native places, while my collection contains excellent speci- 

 mens of almost all the rest, I have bestowed a good deal 

 of attention upon the Genus. I flatter myself, that the re- 

 sults of my study and observations, here communicated, 

 may contribute towards a better discrimination of the Amer- 

 ican species of Viola, and thus prove acceptable to Bota- 

 nists. 



As far as my means have enabled me, I have endeavored 

 to determine the synonymy of the species hitherto descri- 



*Received July 28, 1821, +Now ("April 182?,) of Bethlehem, Penn. 



