1G5 



VIOLA PALMAENSIS. 



(Palmese Violet.} 



LINNEAN SYSTEM. NATURAL ORDER. 



PENTANDRIA MONOGYNIA. VIOLACEjE. 



GENERIC CHARACTER. 

 Viola (Toubn.) Calycis sepala insequalia, omnia plus minus deorsum in appendices auriculae- 

 formes, (e dilationibus nervorum prodeuntes producta), post anthesin erecta. Petala insequalia, 

 •aestivatione convolutiva ungue trinervi ; inferius deorsum in calcar cavum plus minus productum. 

 Stamina approximata aut coarctata (nec coalita) ad apicem dentium tori pentagoni 5 dentati 

 inserta. Filamenta basi dilatata oblonga vel triangularia, antheras demissius gerentia; lobi 

 antherarum basi divergentes ; stamina 2 anteriora dorso appendices varias nectariferas in calcar 

 intimites gerentia. Ovarium nunc superum, nunc basi toro concavo cinctum et ideo semi- 

 inferum. Valvules capsular elasticae post maturationem contract&s semina ejicientes; semina 

 horizontalia manifesto carunculata, plus minus ovoidea et nitida. Embryo oblongus, radicula 

 teretiuscula, cotyledones saepius oblongo-orbiculatae planiusculae radicula vix longiores. Herbce 

 plerumque perennes, rarissime annua? nunc caule brevissimo vel subterraneo, unde acaules 

 dictae, nunc caulescentes vel suffrutices parvi ; folia alterna inarcescentia ; pedunculi solitarii 

 axillares uniflori, 2 bracteolati non articulati, apice reflexi; flores cernui; folia seminalia 

 oblonga ovatave petiolata ; primordialia opposita, sed rare- coetanea. — De Cand. Prod. vol. ii. 

 p. 291. 



Sepals of the Calyx unequal, all more or less produced downwards into auricular appendages, 

 (arising from the dilatation of the nerves,) after flowering erect. Petals unequal, aestivation con- 

 volute, claw three-nerved, lower petals downwards elongated more or less into a hollow spur. 

 Stamens approximating or pressed together, not joined, inserted at the apex of the teeth of a 

 five-sided five-toothed torus. Filaments oblong or triangular, dilated at the base, bearing the 

 anthers low, lobes of the anthers diverging at the base, the two anterior stamens bearing at the 

 back various nectariferous appendages passing into a spur. Ovarium sometimes superior, some- 

 times surrounded at the base with a concave torus, and then half inferior. Valves of the 

 capsule elastic, contracted after maturity, ejecting the seeds, seeds horizontal, manifestly fleshy, 

 more or less ovoid, and shining. Embryo oblong, radicle roundish, colytedons oftentimes oblong 

 orbiculate, flat, scarcely longer than the radicle. Herbaceous plants most commonly perennial, 

 very rarely annual, sometimes with a very short or subterraneous stem, whence called stemless, 

 sometimes caulescent, or small shrubs. Leaves alternate, withering, peduncles solitary, 

 axillary one-flowered, bracts two, not"' articulated, reflexed at the apex, flowers drooping, seed- 

 leaves oblong or ovate petiolate, first leaves opposite but rarely joined. 



SPECIFIC CHARACTER. 

 V. palmaesis ; suffruticosa ramosa, pubescens ; foliis lineari-lanceolatis remote dentatis : stipulis 

 laciniatis foliis fere asquantibus, laciniis prope basin obsolete dentatis : sopalis lineari-lanceolatis 

 ciliatis, calcare incurvo ; petalis obovatis, superioribus subemarginatis, lateralibus basi barbatis ; 

 ovario angulato. 



