Viola acaulis; foliis pedatis, septempartitis; laciniis dentatis.
Violet without a stem, leaves formed like a bird’s foot, with seven divisions; segments toothed.
REFERENCE TO THE PLATE.
1. The Empalement.
2. One of the upper Petals of the Blossom.
3. One of the lateral Petals.
4. The lower Petal, with its Honey-cup.
5. The Chives and Pointal with the Appendages that fall into the Honey-cup from the two hinder threads.
6. The Pointal magnified.
The Bird’s-foot-leaved Violet is a native of North America near Philadelphia; and (according to the Kew Catalogue) was cultivated by Mr. P. Miller, in 1759, at the Physic Gardens, Chelsea. It is a hardy herbaceous plant, but is sometimes destroyed by the wetness of our autumnal months: the flowers, if kept in the open air, expand about May, or the beginning of June; but if kept in pots they, with a slight protection from the Spring frosts, will be produced in April. Peat earth is the soil it approves most, and it should not be exposed to too much wet, whether planted in the borders or in pots. The roots may be parted in March.[Pg 37]