Part 11

The long narrow oval leaf is pointed at both ends; its edge is slightly rolled under, and the ribs are prominent and rough beneath; the texture is strong-fibred, and the surface is rough; its green is tawny. The leaves are set on short stems, with a pair of wings (“stipules”) at the junction with the stalk, and occur alternately.

The 5-petaled flower is shaped like a shallow cup of very fine and thin texture and a clear vigorous yellow color, which is in good harmony with the many orange-tipped stamens; the 5-pointed calyx is hairy, and its green is toned with tawny.

A very individual trait of this flower is the fact that the stamens almost always gather together to one side of the pistil, lying flat upon a petal, caused by the rude touch of a passing insect, it is said, so sensitive is this charming plant,--a quality further manifested by the swift fall of its petals if plucked. The flower never lasts more than a single day, and but few blossoms are borne on a plant. This is the first flowering of the Rock-Rose; though ripening the seeds now formed, there comes a second bloom in the fall whose blossoms are very small, with few or no petals, clustered in the angles of the leaves, and bearing but a few seeds. “Generally called ‘Beauties of the Sun’ by the ancients,--‘Sun-roses’ by the English folk.”

VIOLET FAMILY.

VIOLACEÆ.

*Sweet White Violet.* Viola blanda.

Found in swamps, by roadside runnels, and in moist meadows, in April.

The leaves and flowers, on stems 4 or 5 inches in height, grow from the root.

The leaf is a round heart-shape, with a toothed margin, fine strong fibre, and smooth surface; in color, a light yellowish-green. The stem is slender.

The flower is small in all parts, the spur not conspicuous, the 5 petals much recurved and white, veined on the lower petal by reddish-violet hair-lines. It is set on a slender pale stem.

This is one of the earliest Violets, sweet-scented and graceful in growth.

*Arrow-Leaved Violet.* Viola sagittata. *Upland Violet.*

Found in upland pastures in May.

The leaves and flowers, from the roots, are set on very short stems.

The leaf is arrow-shaped, with a blunt tip and slightly heart-shaped base; the margin is minutely notched, the upper surface, particularly, is softly downy, and the color is green, with a slight grayish bloom. The stem is flattened on its upper side and furnished with narrow margins.

The side-petals of the small flower are bearded, and the spur is small; the corolla is violet; the stem is hairy.

A small Violet, which grows close to the ground on high pastures, and puts forth few demands upon our attention.

*Downy Yellow Violet.* Viola pubescens.

Found in woods and moist shade, in May.

The branching, leafy, slightly angular stalk is shining near the foot, but hairy above, and grows from 5 to 12 inches high. It is light green. Near the foot a small sheathing leaf may be observed.

The leaf is large, usually broader than it is long, and varying in form from a round-pointed to a sharp-pointed shape; its ribs show plainly underneath, its margin is slightly notched, and the surface is soft and downy to the touch; in color, a clear green, lighter underneath. The leaves, on their long, grooved stems, grow alternately, with a pair of up-pointing little wings at the joint.

The lower petal of the flower is scoop-shaped, shallow and short, and notched into two scallops at the tip, with a very short spur; the 4 other petals are rounding and nearly equal in size. In color, a pure golden-yellow, with many dark markings on the lower petal, and fainter lines on the others. The single flowers grow on slender stems from the angles of the leaves.

The branches are wide-spreading, and the flower-stem springs away from the leaves with a decided gesture, nor does the Yellow Violet bend its head; the leaves are generally flat in manner of growth save for the little scoop at the stem. A few separate leaves on independent stems rise about the foot of the flowering stalk. This plant bears a profusion of blossoms, and continues to flower for a considerable time.

*Canada Violet.* Viola Canadensis.

Found in May, and again less profusely in August, in forests and woodlands to the north, or in high regions.

The branching, leafy stalk varies from 6 inches to 2 feet in height; it is smooth to the touch. Light green in color.

The heart-shaped leaf with its tapering point has a strong midrib, a slightly notched and wavy margin, and a thin, firm texture; it is a clear green color. The leaves, on stems, grow alternately, with a pair of little wings at the stalk; they are gathered close at the ends of the branches.

The small flower has an inconspicuous spur, its lower broadest petal is pinched sharply together in the middle at the edge, the other 4 petals are all long oval, the side petals are bearded and flaring, while the upper two turn back. The texture of the petals is fine and thin. This is a two-colored flower--the face of the corolla is white, while the outside is lavender or dark rich violet; the heart of the blossom is yellow-tinged, and its markings are in bluish-lavender lines. The 5-parted green calyx is possessed of a violet lining which it displays to the world by daintily turning back its uppermost tip. The flowers, on stems, spring from the angles of the leaves.