62 



THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 



will be found in damp places, as around swamps. The 

 lance-leaved and primrose-leaved violets grow in the same 

 kind of place. Often all three white kinds are found to- 

 gether. 



The botanist divides violets into two sections, accord- 

 ing to whether or not they have leafy stems. An example 

 of a stemless violet is the sweet white ; of a leafy-stemmed 

 one, the yellow violet or the pansy. Perhaps our most 

 beautiful species is the so-called ''bird-foot," Viola pedata. 

 It derives its name from the digittately parted leaves, 

 quite unlike those of any of our other species. It is found 

 late in the month of April or in early May, in sandy dis- 

 tricts. Often a railway bank is literally clothed with the 

 delicate blue or lavender flowers. A variety resembling a 

 pansy, is now and then found. ''The two upper petals," 

 says Gray, "are deep violet, and, as it were, velvety." . Al- 

 binos, of course, occur. The plant thrives by cultivation, 

 increasing in size and color. 



We have two species of yellow violet. One of these is 

 pretty common in northern New England and about 

 mountains, like Wachuset. It is the stemless, round 

 leaved form, and, I should think, might be the one cele- 

 brated by Bryant in the lines : 



"When beechen buds begin to swell, 



And woods the blue-bird's warble know, 

 The yellow violet's modest bell 



Peeps from the last year's leaves below." 



The other is local rather than rare, and has leafy 

 stems. It is the "downy yellow" of the woods. It often 

 grows in association with the bloodroot and the adder's- 

 tongue. 



It is not generally known that violets possess two 

 kinds of flowers. Besides the showy ones we admire, 

 others are produced later in the season at the ends of sub- 

 terranean runners, and are hidden under the leaves. 

 "These never open nor develop petals, but are fertilized in 

 the bud, and are far more fruitful than ordinary blos- 

 soms." Many other flowering plants exhibit this phe- 

 nomenon. 



