
          688.

these pretty flowers, and before we reached the ravine six different
species had been found, viz. V. cuculata [cucullata], V. palmata, V. sagittata,
V. pedata, V. bicolor and V. villosa.  A variety (?) of the latter
was found with beautifully variegated (blue and white) petals.
At first I thought the petals were somewhat faded and that
had caused their beautiful mottled appearance.  Closer observation
soon showed that this was not the case for the petals in
the bud were also mottled.  V. villosa is a beautiful species.
It must be closely allied to V. cuculata [cucullata] for superficially
it somewhat resembles the latter.  Closer inspection shows that
the leaves are not quite like it in shape and in the crenation.
The most marked difference though is that its leaves particularly
the petioles are densely villous.  I carefully dug up the pretty
find and then noticed another peculiarity which I have not as
yet observed on other violets and that is that the flower
scape has several (2 or 3) tiny bracts along its entire length.  When
2 they are sometimes opposite.  The scape also is slightly villous.
We found Erythronium still in flower and this reminded Mr.
Napier who accompanied us <s>till</s> for an hour and a half, that he had
noticed that his dog ate the leaves of this plant.  He thought that 
        