Viola. ] IX, VIOLACER. 5D 
pubescent or hoary stemless perennial. Leaves orbicular-ovate, obtuse, 
much rounder than in V. canina, Flowers pale blue, on short axillary 
branches from a compact rosette of leaves ; stipules small, fimbriate. 
Sepals lanceolate, acute, bases square in fruit. Petals broad, spur short. 
Capsule oblong, pubescent. . 
A native of sandy and stony places in Europe from Norway southwards, 
and in North Asia. In Britain found only in the mountains of Upper 
Teesdale and there extremely rare. £7. summer. ; 
5. WV. canina, Linn. (fig. 124). Dog Violet.—Stock short, with the 
radical leaves tufted, and the flowering branches at first so short as to give 
the plant much resemblance to the sweet V.; but as the season advances, 
the lateral flowering branches are always more or Jess elongated, ascending 
or erect, from a few inches to near a foot long. Leaves ovate-cordate, 
varying from nearly orbicular to broadly lanceolate, and pointed. Flowers 
much like those of V. odorata, but usually paler, always scentless, and the 
sepals pointed. The complete flowers set their fruit more frequently than 
in V. odorata, but yet the greater number of capsules are produced by the 
later petalless flowers. 
Very common in a variety of situations, throughout Europe and Russian 
Asia. Abundant in Britain. £0. spring and early summer ; the petalless 
flowers all summer. It varies much in size, in the shape of the leaves, and 
in the mode of development of the flowering branches, and has been divided 
into a number of species, which may be reduced to three principal varieties, 
viz. :— 
a. V. pumila, Hook. and. Arn, Usually only 2 or 3 inches high, the 
flowering branches. frequently perennial at the base, and the capsules 
almost always obtuse, being produced by the petalless flowers. Grows in 
open, dry, or sandy situations. 
b. V. sylvatica, Fries. Common Dog Violet.—Six inches high or more ; 
the flowering branches all lateral. Leaves ovate-cordate. Capsules often 
pointed, and produced by the complete flowers. On hedge-banks and in 
thickets. 
c. V. stagnina, Kit. Flowering branches more erect than in the common 
variety, often much longer, although sometimes short. Leaves ovate- 
lanceolate, from one and a half to three times as long as broad, and cordate 
at the base. Flowers very pale or white. Very luxuriant on boggy heaths, 
dwarf near the seaside. Baker distinguishes two British forms of this 
variety, V. stagnina, with, and V. lactea, without creeping stolons, 
6. V. tricolor, Linn. (fig. 125). Pansy Violet, Heartsease.—A most 
variable plant, but easily recognized by the branching stem, the large leaf- 
like stipules deeply divided into several linear or oblong lobes, the central 
or terminal one the largest, broadest, and most obtuse, and by the style 
thickened at the top into an almost globular oblique stigma. The plant is 
glabrous, or slightly downy. Leaves stalked, from narrow-oblong to ovate 
- or cordate, always obtuse and slightly crenate. Flowers purple, whitish, or 
yellow, or with a mixture of these colours; the two upper pairs of petals 
slightly overlapping each other, and usually more coloured, the lower petals 
always broadest, and generally yellow at the base. 
On hilly pastures and banks, in cultivated and waste places throughout 
Europe and Russian Asia, and abundant in Britain, especially as a weed of 
cultivation. £V. from spring till autumn. This is the most variable of all our 
