Of the stemless violets are the following :
V. pedata. L. Bird-foot Violet. Flower-stem or scape
3 - 5 inches high, several from one ro o t; leaves radical, pedate,
or bird-foot-like, 5 — 7-parted, smoothish, the divisions being
linear-lanceolate ; stigma large, compressed, truncate, and perforate
at the apex; blossoms in May, grows in woods and dry
soils ; flowers large and blue. Abounds in the towns on Connecticut
River, and in the eastern towns, and is becoming useful
for its medicinal virtues. Dr. Partridge, of Stockbridge.
V. cucullata. Ait. Common Field Violet. A variable species,
in its leaves and pubescence, common in wet fields or
meadows ; has large blue flowers, more or less variegated, on radical
stems ; 3 — 6 inches high ; leaves turned in at their base so as
to resemble a monk’s cowl, and hence its technical name ; April
and May.
V. palmata. L. Hand Violet. Receives its name from the
leaves being lobed and cut so as to resemble the shape of the
hand ; of which some are certainly finely palmate ; varying as the
leaves do, they seem too far removed from the preceding to be
only a variety, as some have thought. Grows in wet grounds ;
blossoms in May ; flowers middle-sized, blue.
V. primulifolia. L. Leaves smooth, oblong-ovate, partially
heart-shaped and obtusish, pubescent on the nerves beneath;
petals obtuse, and the 2 side ones slightly bearded ; flowmrs
white and odorous, with long floral leaves ; wet grounds ; May.
Found lately in the eastern part of the State. E. Tuckerman, Jr.
V. ovata. N. . Grows on dry, sandy hills or fields, very
close to the ground, having bright blue flowers on short stems,
with flat ovate, subcordate, crenate leaves ; whole plant pubescent
; May.
V. villosa. Walt. Very pubescent, with kidney-form, cordate
leaves, thick and flat on the ground ; like the preceding ;
May, on dry hills.
V. rotundifolia. Mx. Ground Violet. Has large, broad-
ovate and cordate, thick leaves, of a bright-green, with yellow
flowers on a very short stem, often scarcely raising them above
the leaves of woods ; an early species, blooms in April.
V. acuta. Big. Has ovate, smooth, crenate leaves, rather
obtuse ; petals ovate, acute, white, with the odd petal purple at
base; very small ; April and May, in moist grounds. Big.
Boston and Amherst.
There are 3 other stemless species, sagittata, Ait., lanceo-
lata, L ., blanda, W., of even less consequence.
Of the caulescent, or having a stem, are the following :
V. Canadensis. L. Woods Violet. Stem a foot or more
high, erect, with broad-cordate, serrate, acuminate leaves, slightly
pubescent along the nerves ; spur short; flowers large, blue,
pale inside ; grows in woods and fields ; May.
V. pubespens. Ait. Large Yellow Woods Violet. Stem
towards a foot high, erect, with broad-ovate, cordate, toothed
leaves ; whole plant villous-pubescent ; middle-sized yellow
flowers ; woods ; May.
V. rostrata. Muhl. Beaked Violet. Stem 4 - 6 inches high,
erect, diffuse ; leaves smooth; cordate, acute, serrate ; large pale-
blue flowers, with a long spur ; hills and woods ; May.
V. tricolor. L. Garden Violet. Is the species commonly
cultivated in gardens, so beautiful and so various in its 3-colored
flowers; introduced from England. When propagated by cuttings
or from seed in very rich soil, its flowers increase in. size,
and have far more splendid colors.
V. odorata. L. Sweet-scented Violet. A stemless species,
with creeping scions ; stems smoothish; calyx obtuse; distinguished
for its fine odor, its early flowers, and variously
colored petals ; many varieties have risen from cultivation ;
a native of the woods and hedges of Europe, far less common
than the preceding in our gardens.