By Thomas Bruges Flower, Esq. 



361 



and V. iactea, its larger states or forms being referred to the former 

 of these two, and its smaller forms to the latter. It is not nearly 

 so abundant throughout the county as " V. sylvatica," but may be 

 distinguished by the want of the short central and barren stem. 

 The flowering branches are produced by repeated sub-division of 

 the stem itself, and are not lateral growths from it. The leaves 

 are thick and rather rigid, variable in shape, with a cordate base, 

 mostly inclining to ovate if small and early, and to triangular ovate 

 if large and produced later. The flowers are bluish purple with a 

 yellow, never blue spur, and scentless; the prevailing colour of the 

 leaves and whole plant is a dark grayish or bluish green, and in its 

 dwarf form is the V. flavicornis of Smith's Herbarium. I should 

 feel particularly obliged to botanists for any information on the 

 distribution of this species in Wilts ; and in reporting localities for 

 it, care should be taken to particularize the species really intended, 

 which the name canina cannot do without explanation, as it may 

 now signify either sylvatica, flavicornis, or even lactea, according to 

 the "cybele." 



V. tricolor, (Linn.) three coloured Violet. Pansy or Heart's- ease. 

 Pansy, from the French pensee, a thought, 



" There's pansies, that's for thoughts." — Hamlet, Aot iv. s. 5. 

 Engl. Bot. t. 1287. Reich. Icones, iii. 21. 



Locality. Cultivated and waste ground, common. A. Fl. May, 

 September. Area, 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 



General in all the Districts with the Var. b. arvensis (Murr.) 

 Engl. Bot. Suppl. t. 2712. 



V. lutea. b. ammia, (Symes.) has been reported by Miss Meredith 

 from the Downs near Imber, (District 2). Further information re- 

 specting this species would be desirable. I have seen no specimen. 



In studying the structure of the Violacese, we cannot fail to ad- 

 mire the very simple and beautiful arrangement adapted by nature 

 for the protection and dispersion of its seed. The capsule consists 

 of three valves each, containing about an equal number of germs. 

 During the process of ripening, the seed-vessel hangs in a perpen- 

 dicular position, and is defended from any excess of moisture by 

 the natural umbrella of the calyx. When the seed is nearly ripe, 



