folia altema marcescentia; pedunfculi solitarii axillares unifiori 2-bracteolciti non auricidati,
apice reflexi; flores cemici; folia seminalia oblonga ovatave, petiolata; priraordialia opposite^
sed raro coetanea. DC.
Obs. In drawing up the account of the present genus, I have derived much assistance from the labours
of the Rev. Lewis Schweinitz, in the American Journal of Science, from Dr. Torrey in his Flora of the
Northern and Middle Sections of the United States, and from Capt. Le Conte in his Observations on the
North American species of the genus Viola, published in the 2d vol of the Ann. of the Lyceum of Nat.
Hist, of New York; as well as from numerous authentic specimens that have been communicated to me by
Mr. Schweinitz, Dr. Torrey, Mr. Nuttall, and Dr. Boott: those of the latter gentleman from the neighbourhood
of Boston, are particularly valuable, not only in consequence of their great similarity with the Canadian
plant, but as serving to illustrate the species of Dr. Bigelow’s Florula of Boston. Notwithstanding all
these aids, so variable are the individuals of which the genus is composed, that even the authors who have
had the best opportunities of examining them in their native stations, have been puzzled to distinguish
species from mere varieties; and, in describing them from dried specimens, the difficulty is infinitely increased.
Sect. I. N omimium. Ging. in DC. Stigma rostratum, foraminulo ad extremitatem rostri
sito; rostrum plus minus recurvum, nunc door sum marginatum et tunc planiuscidum et
obliquum, nunc absque margine et tunc deorsum convexiuscidum. Stylus ab apice ad
basin attenuatus. Stamina oblonga approximata. Torus planiusculus. Capsida seepius
trigona. Semina 1'5—27. Folia seminalia scope obovata vel oblonga. DC.
* Caules siibnulli.
1. V. pedata; subpubescens, stigmate incrassato oblique brevirostrato truncato perforate,
foliis multipartitis, segmentis linearibus inferioribus hinc pinnatifidis.—Linn. Sp.
PI. p . 1823. Mich. Am. v. 2. p. 151. Pursh, FI. Am. v. 1. p . 171. Elliott, Carol, v. 1. p.
300. Curt, in Bot. Mag. t. 89. Torrey, FI. o f XJn. S t v. 1. p . 249. De Cand. Prodr. v. 1.
p. 291. Schwein. Viol, in Sill. Joum. v. 5. p. 50. Le Conte in Ann. Dye. o f N. Y. v. 2. p.
147.—V. digitata. Pursh, FI. Am. v. 1. p . 171.—V. pinnata. Rich, in Frankl. 1st Joum.
ed. 2. App. p . 8.
Hab. Canada, frequent; and as far north as lat. 53° on the Saskatchawan. Dr. Richardson; Drummond.—
Flowers blue, sometimes white, according to Le Conte; sometimes pale, with the two upper petals
deep red-purple, when it becomes the V fiabeUifolia, Lodd. Bot. Cab. t. 777.—It comes very near the true
V. pinnata, but the structure of its leaves is different.
2. V. palmata; pubescens, stigmate triangulari-marginato, foliis hastato-cordatis pal-
mato-lobatis, lobis angustis latioribusque raro exterioribus cordatis indivisis.—Linn. Sp.
PI. p. 1323. Mich. Am. v. 1. p. 171. Curt. Bot. Mag. t. 535. Pursh, FI. Am. v. 1. p . 172.
Elliott, Carol, v. 1. p . 300. Bigel. FI. Bost. ed. 2. p . 95.? Torrey, FI. o f Un. St. v. 1. p.
250. Schwein. Viol, in Sill. Joum. v. 5. p. 51. De Cand. Prodr. v. 1. p. 291. Le Conte in
Ann. Lyc. o f N. Y. v. 2. p . 189.
H ab. Canada. Le Conte.—This is allowed by all to be a very variable species. It is seen with its most
distinctive characters in Bot. Mag., above quoted. When the leaves are more deeply divided, it has affinity
with V. pedata ; but generally they are less divided; the outer ones, and sometimes the whole of them, are
quite entire, when I scarcely know how the species is to be distinguished from V. cucullata. The same
plant too, at different seasons of the year, may possess all these differently formed leaves. Professor Bigelow
seems to be of opinion that it is a state of the latter mentioned species. It does not exist in the collections
of our North American Travellers. Le Conte says it is better knoira by its habit than any character that
can be assigned to it.
3. V asarifolia; stigmate clavato-capitato recarvo immarginato {Schwein.), foliis cucul-
latis lato-cordatis reniformibus nunc sagittatisve et subpalmatis lobatis omnibus crenato-
dentatis in petiolum decurrentibus.—Pursh, FI. Am. v. 2. p. 732. (not Muil. Cat.) Schwein.
Viol, in Sill. Joum. v. 5. p. 54. EUiott, Carol, v . l . p . 299. De Cand. Prodr. ». 1. p . 292.
Le Conte in Amt. Lyc. o f N. Y. v. 2. p . 141.—An V. congener, Le Conte, l. c. p. 140. ?
Hsb. Canada. Le Conte.—Much confusion exists with regard to the present species Pursh is the
original authority for it, and Le Conte cites the plant of Pursh as a native of Canada. The only specimens
which 1 have had the opportunity of seeing are from Mr.'Sohweinitz, having entire cordate leaves, and vary-
mg-in their general aspect scarcely at all from V. cucuttata. It is it which Le Conte brings as a synonym to
his V. congener, a species scarcely differing, according to his own description, from V. cucuttata, and to which
Nuttall is disposed to refer the V. asarifolia of Pursh.
4. V. cucuttata ; stigmate triangulari-marginato, foliis cordatis acutis glabriusculis ser-
ratis junioribus prascipue basi cucullatis, rhizomate carnoso crasso, petalis oblique flexis,
cal care brevissimo.—Ait. Hort. Kew. ed. 1. p. 288. Pursh, FI. Am. v. 1. p. 173. EUiott,
Carol, v. 1. p. 298. (non Schwein. ?) De Cand. Prodr. v. 1. p. 292. Sims in Bot. Mag. t. 1795.
Torrey, FI. o f XJn. St. v. 1. p. 251. Bigel. FI. Bost. ed. 2. p. 97. Le Conte in Ann. Lyc. o fN . Y.
v. 2. p. 137.—V. obliqua. Ait. Pursh, Schwein. Torrey.—V. papilionacea. Pursh. V.
affinis. Le Conte, l. c. p . 138. (et tunc V. cucullata, Schwein.)—V. sororia* of Pursh, according
to Le Conte.
/3. minor; foliis vix unciam longis, petalis subimberbibus.
H ab. Throughout Canada; Lady Dalhousie and Dr. Todd; and as far north as the Mackenzie River
and Bear Lake. Dr. Richardson; Drummond. Newfoundland. Mr. Morrison, p. Marshes in the Rocky
Mountains. Drummond.—The flowers are large, of a more or less deep purple colour, and with the claws more
or less distinctly bearded. The leaves and petioles are uncertain in the degree of pubescence, and the leaves
m their length relatively to their breadth. From these circumstances, often varying in the same individual
together with the greater or less width of the calycine leaves, and the length of the peduncles in regard to that
of the leaves, many varieties, and not a few species, have been made, by which the difficulty of determining
the synonyms is not a little increased. Le Conte refers the V. cucullata of Schweinitz to his new species
V. affinis; yet says it differs in no distinctive characters, except the shortness of the peduncles and the
broader sepals.—Whether or not my var. p. ought to be distinguished, I am not able to say. It does not
differ in the stigma. The leaves are much shorter than the scapes or peduncles, and the blade is scarcely
more, and often not so much, as an inch long. The flowers, to judge from the dried specimens, are very
pale-coloured and almost glabrous.-Mr. Elliott observes that this species is veiy mucilaginous, and much
used by the negroes of South Carolina and Georgia in their soups. The bruised leaves too are employed
as an emollient application. v J
5. V. Selkirkii; stigmate— ? foliis cordatis crenato-serratis pilosioscalis, petalis imber-
bitmsb calcare subatque longo crasso obtusissimo.— Goldie in Edin. Phil. Joum. 1822.
* Willdenow, In Hort. Berol; t. 72, ta tie authority for this apeciea, and hia figare and description entirely accord
with our plant, except that the dower is much .mailer: and it is well hnown how liable this part is to vary in almost
all our Violas.
K 2