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point, serrate, the serratures curved inwards and uncinate, furrowed on
the upper side, and many nerved underneath, generally 5 strong nerves
proceeding from the base, which branch in all directions, and are clothed
with a short pubescence. Petioles variable in length, slightly winged, pubescent.
Stipules lanceolate, taper-pointed, quite entire, membranaceous,
about half an inch in length. Flowers numerous, axillary, solitary, sweet-
scented, white inside, elegantly striped with blue, outside of a light purple
or lilac, dying oil’ a dark purple, as are the buds before expansion. P eduncles
sliglitly angular, pubescent, with two bractes on each, near the
middle, liractes opposite or alternate, lanceolate, taper-pointed, pressed
close to the peduncle. Calyx of 5 sepals, which are subulately lanceolate,
taper-pointed, smooth or very slightly pubescent. Petals 5, 2 upper ones
oblong, obtuse, smooth and not streaked : the 2 side ones of nearly the same
size, densely bearded above the unguis with tufts of pellucid cartilaginous
clubbed hairs, and striped with blue from the base : lower one terminated
with a short blunt spur or pouch at the base, yellow above the unguis and
elegantly striped with blue or purple. Stamens 5, the anthers joined hy
their hacks to the filaments, which are terminated beyond them, in a dry
spathulate membranaceous appendage. Ovarium smooth, very blunt, ribbed.
Style smooth, slender, and twisted at the base, thickening upwards,
flattened on both sides. Stigma a flattened head, with a hunch o f hairs
on each side, terminated with a very small point a little on one side.
Our drawing of this handsome species of Violet, was taken from fine
specimens sent us from the collection of Robert Barclay, Esq. of Bury H ill,
from whose collection we have also received several other curious North
American Violets, by means of which we have been enabled to clear up
some mistakes, on a comparison of the specimens with those in the Linnean
Herbarium ; hy comparing them, we find that the V . primulwfòlia of N u ttall,
with a smooth leaf and white flower, is the true Linnean plant ; in
Decandolle’s Prodromus it is made variety y? Nuttàlii, by Gingins, who,
by the bye, has made sad confusion amongst them altogether. V. primu-
lafòlia of Pursh, with pubescent leaves and a pretty blue flower, is a very
distinct plant, the V . ovata of Nuttall ; both Pursh and N uttall’s Y .la n -
ceolàta are wrong, but Elliott’s is the same as liinnmus’s, with bearded petals,
and the same as already figured in the first series of this work, where
I mentioned my suspicion of there being two species confused ; the one
with smooth petals and long leaves attenuated at both ends must therefore
have a new name, and I propose to name it V . attenuàta. The present
species thrives well in any situation, but it makes the best appearance
when grown in a pot or in peat soil, as it sometimes loses the blue from the
hack of the petals when grown in the open borders ; it continues in bloom
nearly all the Summer.
The generic name is a Latin word, most probably originating from so
many of the flowers of the genus being of a blue or violet colour ; the Greek
name is lov.
A il ' '
1. Calyx. 2. The two upper Petals. 3. The two side ones, showing the glandular
beard near the base. 4. Lower one, showing the short spur or ponch at its base. 5. The
5 Stamens, witli tlieir brown scaly appendages at the points. 6. Ovarium, terminated hy
the bent Style, and fimbriate Stigma.
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