FIELD VIOLET 



Viola rafinesquii Greene 



The field violet is one of the daintiest members of the Violet 

 Family. It prefers the drier fields and open woods, and because it so 

 frequently is found growing in the grass, and has such a pale color, 

 it is easily overlooked. Field violet is a winter annual, and growing 

 day by day as the weather permits, it is one of the earliest violets 

 to bloom in spring. It soon withers when the hot summer sun 

 strikes it. It is more closely related to some of the European violets 

 than to other American species, as shown by the large stipules at 

 the base of the leaves. When freshly pulled the roots have the odor 

 and taste of wintergreen. 



Field violet extends from Georgia to Texas, and northward to 

 New York and Michigan. 



The specimen sketched was obtained in the National Zoological 

 Park at Washington, District of Columbia. 



PLATE 2.1 1 



