COMMON BLUE VIOLET 



The hybrid Bedding Violets look like small pansies and blossom 

 profusely the entire summer, if in a reasonably shaded location. 



They are believed to be the product of crossing Viola cornuta 

 a mountain violet of the Pyrenees, with a variety of Viola tricolor, 

 the common wild violet of Europe. Though long valued in Eng- 

 land, they have but recently become favorites here. 



COMMON BLUE VIOLET 



Viola cucullata. 



The commonest of our native violets; familiar on roadsides and in 

 fields. In addition to the usual blossoms it also produces cleistogamous 

 flowers. 



Roots tacks. — Fleshy and thickened; stemless. 



Leaves. — Radical, long-petioled, heart-shaped with a broad sinus, the 

 sides rolled inward when young, obtusely serrate. 



Flowers. — Irregular, deep or pale violet, blue, rarely white, solitary on 

 scapes. ■ 



Sepals. — Five, exteMed into ears at the base. 



Petals. — Five, unequal, the lower spurred at the base. 



Stamens. — Five, closely surrounding the ovary, slightly cohering, the 

 two lower bearing spurs which project into the spur of the corolla. 



Ovary. — One-celled. 



Capsule. — One-celled, three-valved, many-seeded. 



The violet blooms with every spring. 

 With every spring the breezes blow, 

 And once again the robins sing 

 A song more sweet than June can know. 



So with the violet comes desire 

 For something else than common gain 

 The glow of more than earthly fire, 

 The sting of more than actual pain. 



A blossom of returning light 

 An April flower of sun and dew; 

 The earth and sky, the day and night 

 Are melted in her depth of blue. 



— Dora Read Goodale. 



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