162 KEY AND FLORA 



2. V. cucullata Ait. Marsh Blue Violet. Leaves acute, except 

 the earliest ones. Petal-bearing flowers violet blue, with a darker cen- 

 ter ; peduncles usually longer than the leaves, the spur-bearing petal 

 smooth. Sepals narrowly lanceolate, with long ear-like appendages. 

 Cleistogamoiis flowers borne on erect or ascending peduncles. Cap- 

 sule not much longer than the sepals. Wet ground, common. 



3. V. papilionacea Pursh. C'omjiox Blue Violet, Dooryard 

 Violet. Plants usually strong and vigorous from a thick horizontal 

 rootstock, usually smooth. Leaves bright green, cordate at the base, 

 somewhat triangular or rounded and pointed. Scapes at the time of 

 flowering longer than the leaves. Petals dark violet-purple, white or 

 greenish-yellow at the base, the one with a spur often narrow and 

 boat^shaped. Capsules from the cleistogamous flowers borne on hori- 

 zontal peduncles and often underground, but rising as they mature. 

 Very common about dwellings and gardens. 



4. V. palmata L. Early Blue Violet. Usually downy. Petioles 

 much longer than the blades ; leaves, except the earliest ones, cordate- 

 ovate, with 5-9 variously toothed or cleft segments; the petioles and the 

 veins of the under surface very hairy. Scapes not usually longer than 

 the leaves. Sepals lanceolate, acute or taper-pointed. Petals violet- 

 purple, occasionally pale. Capsules from the cleistogamous flowers 

 borne on horizontal or deflexed peduncles. In dry, rich woodlands. 



5. V. sororia '\A'illd. "Woolly Blue Violet. In size and appear- 

 ance much like No. 3. Leaves ascending, mostly ovate or roundish- 

 ovate, pointed, cordate at the base, crenate, densely soft-hairy when 

 young. Peduncles hairy ; petals varying from violet to lavender. 

 Cleistogamous flowers on short prostrate peduncles. jMoist meadows 

 and rich woods. 



6. V. fimbriatula Sm. Ovate-Leaaed Violet. Rootstock usu- 

 ally erect, at length long and stout. Petioles generally shorter than 

 the blades; leaves varying from ovate-lanceolate to oblong, usually 

 slightly crenate, truncate or almost cordate at the base. Petals blue, 

 bearded. Capsules of the cleistogamous flowers borne on erect 

 peduncles. In dry woods. 



§ 2. Leafy-stemmed perennials 



7. V. pubescens Ait. Downy Yellow Violet. Soft-downy, 6-12 

 in. high. Basal leaves ovate-kidney-shapecl, soon withering; stem 

 leaves broadly heart-shaped, toothed, pointed, with large stipules. 

 Flowers yellow, somewhat purple-veined, with a short spur. In dry 

 woods, common. 



8. V. scabriuscula Schwein. Smoothish Yellow Violet. Like 

 V. ])iibescens, but smaller, greener, and less downy. Stems decumbent 

 or ascending'. Basal leaves broadly ovate, usually persistent through 



