The large heart-shaped leaf (1 or 2 inches wide at the base) is strongly ribbed, minutely hairy, and cut in rounded scallops along its margin; full green in color. The stem is half-round, and grooved on its flat side. The 5 petals and the spur of the flower are variable in color from dark to light (rarely white), from blue- to red-violet; the bearded side-petals and the lower petal are white at the base. The flower-stem is long, slender and smooth. “The flower-stems are the length of the leaf-stems usually, or a little shorter, and the blossoms appear in the midst of the rich green foliage. In the new growths the lower edges of the leaves at the base are rolled inwards. “This violet was taken from N. America to England in 1762, and in some English botanies is called _V. obliqua_.”--Sir D. Wooster. [Illustration: COMMON BLUE: V. palmata, var. cucullata.] *Sand Violet.* _Viola pedata._ *Bird-Foot Violet.* Found in May (later than the Meadow Violet) on dry banks and gravelly soil. The leaves and flowers rise from the root on slender stems. The leaf is deeply divided into 3 or 5 narrow and long parts, which are sometimes again cleft into 2 or 3 segments; the middle parts are notched by 2 or 3 rounding scallops, the side parts being shorter, with taper-pointed tips; the ribs show obscurely, the texture is thickish, and the surface is dull above and shining underneath; the color is a dull green. The leaves, on half-rounding stems, that are a darker-hued green than the leaves, spread widely. The early spring leaves are less often divided. This is the largest of the Violet flowers, with 5 flat petals, the upper ones curling backwards on the stem, and a small, very flat spur; the texture is fine and close, and the color varies from deep red-violet to pale lavender, with a dash of white at the base of the lower petals, just beneath the green-tipped pistil, and dry tawny-orange stamens; the 5-parted calyx is pale green. The flowers are set on large shining, smooth stems, which bear a little pair of wings near the ground. The Bird-Foot Violet flower does not droop, or nod, but holds itself out at an angle almost parallel with the stem; its bud shows white, and generally the paler lavender tints prevail in the full-blown flowers. Many folk-names are given this plant, which grows in little clumps and sometimes thickly spreads all over a favorably located sand-barren,--it is often found in burnt-over fields, and stump-lots. Its flowering season is not so long as many others of its family and as observed, it seldom blooms again in the autumn. [Illustration: SAND VIOLET: V. pedata.] PINK FAMILY. CARYOPHYLLACEÆ. *Field Chickweed.* _Cerastium arvense._ Found in May on dry and sandy banks. The stalk branches a little for the flowers, and varies in height from 6 to 10 inches; it is rough with hairs, and green.