HARPER'S GUIDE TO WILD FLOWERS 



cut into long and narrow lobes. Leaves at the root roundish, 3 

 or 4 inches broad. Summer. 



Plant faintly scented of musk. 



White Hibiscus 



Hibiscus oculiroseus. — Family, Mallow. Color, white, with a 

 deep crimson center. Underneath the calyx are many pointed 

 green bracts. Calyx, 5-cleft. Corolla, of 5 separate large petals. 

 Stamens, collected on a column, which is divided at the summit 

 into 5 styles. Leaves, acute at apex, broad toward the base, ovate, 

 palmately veined. The fruit becomes a large, 5-valved capsule. 

 July to September. 



This is similar to the swamp rose mallow so familiar to 

 those who travel over the Hackensack marshes, near Jersey 

 City. The white species grows also in marshes, especially salt 

 marshes near the coast. Massachusetts to Florida. 



Green Violet 



Hybanthus concolor. — Family, Violet. Color, greenish white. 

 Petals, nearly equal in length, the lower one being larger than the 

 others, swollen at base, notched at apex. Stamens united into a 

 sheath which envelops the ovary. A broad gland is seen on the 

 lower side. Leaves, entire, acute at both ends. Stems, very leafy, 

 1 to 2 feet high, with 1 to 3 flowers in the axils on short, nodding 

 peduncles. Pod much larger than the flower. April to June. 



This homely species, although of the Violet Family, scarce- 

 ly deserves to be numbered among those favorite flowers. 

 Rich, moist woods, shaded ravines from New York westward 

 and southward. 



Sweet White Violet 



Viola pattens. — Family, Violet. Sepals and petals, 5, the latter 

 differing in size, the lowest spurred at the base. The side petals 

 usually are hairy, and all are streaked with purplish lines. Leaves 

 obtuse at apex, heart-shaped at base, with petioles. Stem and 

 leaves sometimes dotted with red spots. April and May. 



Along brooks and springs from New England to the 

 mountains of South Carolina and westward. 



Lance-leaved Violet 



V. la.nceola.ta. — Near by, perhaps, grows the lance-leaved violet, 

 also white and sweet-scented. This species produces runners 

 which root at the joints, and bear small, apetalous blossoms (cleis- 

 togamous), which pollinate themselves beneath the closed calyx. 



94 



