THE BRITISH PANSIES. 179 



Great Britain. In V. variata Jord. (figs. 55, 62) the flower varies in 

 size, but when large is exceedingly handsome with blue, purple, and 

 yellow coloration, and well worthy of cultivation. The habit is bushy 

 and the leaves are much shorter than in V. Lloydii, while the division of 

 the stipule is very different, the mid-lobe being shorter and rounder and 

 less unlike the lateral-lobes, and the stipule as a whole tends to be 

 palmate in form. V. cantiana mihi (figs. 56, 63) resembles V. variata 

 in habit, but is smaller in all its parts and of a different texture, while 

 the leaves and stipules are covered with very short rather stiff hairs. 

 The figure appears far more like V. variata than does the actual plant, 

 the texture and general relative size of the parts affording ready means of 

 distinction. V. cantiana appears to be extremely rare in England, and 

 hence perhaps would escape the notice of the early observers. V. Lloydii 

 and V. variata, however, would offer excellent material for the horticul- 

 turist. These plants tend to become at least subperennial, and when 

 crossed with perennial forms would probably produce very useful garden 

 plants. 



Fig. 65. — Viola leplda Jord. 



1, Flower ; 2, leaf from base of stem ; 3, leaf from middle of stem ; 4, stipule. 



(Natural size.) 



In the second group we find truly perennial Pansies mostly growing 

 in uncultivated places in the uplands. They are characterized by generally 

 possessing slender subterranean stems, the ends of which, or lateral 

 branches from which, or both, may turn upwards and bear foliage leaves 

 and flowers. The mid-lobe of the stipule is usually quite entire and not 

 leaflike, and the stipule as a whole is palmate. The spur of the corolla 

 is longer than in the plants of the last group, and extends beyond the 

 sepaline appendages. The sepals are narrow and shorter than the petals. 

 The British species are described below. 



V. alpestris Jord. (figs. 57, 64) approaches V. variata very closely 

 and has often been confused with it. It is a bushy plant of similar habit 

 to variata, but differs in the longer petaline spur. It seems to lorm a 

 connecting link between this group and the last. The flowers are yellow 

 and thus differ from the typical form of V. variata, but the latter may 

 also possess yellow flowers, and it is such plants that have been confused 

 with V. alpestris. Viola lepida Jord. (figs. 58, 65) is a plant with several 

 flowering stems arising from the base and bearing particoloured flowers. 

 The mid-lobe of the stipule is entire and not leafy. Viola polychroma 



