VIOLACEiE. 



97 



than in the sweet V., but yet the greater number of capsules are pro- 

 duced by the later petalless flowers. 



Yery common in a variety of situations, throughout Europe and 

 Eussian Asia. Abundant in Britain. Fl. 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. Dwarf Dog Violet (V. flavicornis, Eng. Bot. Suppl. t. 2736). 

 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 si- 

 tuations. 



b. 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. Narrow-leaved Dog Violet (V lactea, Eng. Bot. t. 445). Flower- 

 ing 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. Yery luxuriant on boggy heaths, dwarf near the 

 seaside. 



5. Pansy Violet. Viola tricolor, Linn. (Eig. 123.) 

 (Eng. Bot. t. 1287. Heartsease or Tansy.) 



A most variable plant, but easily re- 

 cognized 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 al- 

 most globular oblique stigma. The plant 

 is glabrous, or slightly downy. Leaves 

 stalked, from narrow-oblong to ovate or 

 cordate, always obtuse and slightly cre- 

 nate. Flowers purple, whitish, or yel- 

 low, or with a mixture of these colours ; 

 the two upper pairs of petals slightly 

 overlapping each other, and usually more 

 coloured, the lower petal always broadest, and generally yellow at 

 the base. 



On hilly pastures and banks, in cultivated and waste places through - 



VOL. I. 1 



Fig. 123. 



