VIOLET FAMILY 



VIOLACEAE 



SWEET WHITE VIOLET 



Fiola blanda Willd. 



The Sweet White Violet is a small plant with a slender 

 underground stem, basal leaves and fragrant white flowers. 

 It is found in moist woodlands from western Quebec to Minne- 

 sota and southward 

 to northern Georgia 

 and Louisiana, and 

 blooms in April and 

 May. 



The whole plant 

 is usually smooth ex- 

 cept that there are 

 short white hairs on 

 the upper surfaces of 

 the leaves. Midribs, 

 petioles and flower 

 stalks are often tinged 

 red. In summer the 

 plant spreads by slen- 

 der leafy runners. 



The flowers are 

 very irregular. The 5 

 green sepals are slightly unequal and have earlike appendages at 

 the base. The white petals are purple veined, and the lower has 

 a spur at the base in which nectar accumulates. There are 5 

 stamens, 1 of which have appendages that project into the spur 

 of the corolla. There is i pistil. 



The Large-leaved White Violet, Viola incognita Brainerd, is 

 similar, but the upper surfaces of the leaves are smooth, and the rest 

 of the plant is somewhat hairy. Also, the 2 lateral petals are bearded. 



The Striped White Violet, Viola striata Ait., is found in rich wood- 

 ed bottomlands throughout the state but is most common in the 

 south. It is much branched, i foot high or less, and has numerous 

 heart-shaped and toothed leaves. The many large flowers are axillary 

 on long peduncles. The petals are white, cream color or pale lavender, 

 with the 1 lateral bearded and the lowermost thickly striped with 

 purple veins. 



A violet by a mossy stone 



Half hidden from the eye I 

 Fair as a star when only one 



Is shining in the sky. 

 Lucy — William Wokdsworth 



202 



