Nevertheless wherever known in England it is called Dog
Violet; for the ordinary observer does not distinguish it from
the V. Riviniana or V. Reichenbackiana, which together form
the V. sylvatica of Fries.
The V. flavicornis of Smith, a small form of our V. canina,
is often found on dry heaths. We have given a representation
of it, as well as of the typical V. canina, on our plate. The
V. flavicornis of Forster (our tab. 2763) is a dwarf form of
V. Riviniana.
This plant is known by its want of any terminal rosette,
its determinate caespitose growth, cordate-ovate leaves with
rounded ends, large calycine appendages, yellow emarginate
spur to the corolla. It has not a creeping rhizome, although,
as the caespitose stems are much buried, they may easily be
mistaken for one.
The V. lactea of Smith (tab. 445) is a variety of V. canina.
It is the V. lancifolia of Thore and the French botanists, the
V. pumila of Fries, but not of Villars.
This plant inhabits sandy heaths and peaty bogs. It is
not found in shady places, but affects the most.exposed spots,
flowering in April, May, and June.
Our specimens were gathered in Bottisham Fen, Cambridgeshire,
on June 13, 1851, by Prof. Babington. The smaller
figure is drawn from more starved specimens.—C. C. B.