BIRDSFOOT VIOLET 



Viola pdata Linnaeus 



The birdsfoot violet is one of the most beautiful members of the 

 Violet Family. The velvety purple color of the two upper petals, 

 combined with the pale blue- violet shade of the three lower ones, 

 contrasted with the bright orange anthers nestling in the center, im- 

 mediately attracts the attention of all who love wild flowers. Bumble- 

 bees, also yellow butterflies, visit the flowers and partake of the sweets 

 prepared for their enjoyment. When sofl and exposure are favorable, 

 the ground is purple with the lovely blossoms, the absence of scent 

 being the only flaw in their perfection. 



This plant prefers a dry situation where the soil is poor, sterile, and 

 acid, and should not be transferred to a wildflower garden unless satis- 

 fied in this respect, for in ordinary rich loam it will promptly die. It will 

 thrive best if planted in coarse gravel richly charged with decaying 

 wood and so rendered thoroughly acid. The small bulblike rootstock 

 is so poorly anchored in the soil and so easily lifted from its moor- 

 ings, that frequently it comes up when one attempts to pick the 

 flowers. Great care should therefore be taken in gathering them. 



This violet is found from Louisiana to Florida, Minnesota, and 

 Massachusetts, the dark purple variety being much more frequent 

 in the southern portion of the range. 



The specimen sketched was obtained near Washington, District of 



Columbia. 



PLATE 39 



