Summer Flowers of the High Alps

This pretty little plant is common in moist shady places between 3000 and 7000 feet all over Switzerland. It is also found in Bohemia, Silesia, the Vosges, and other parts of Central Europe. It flowers from May to August in the clefts of rocks, and amongst the boulders on the banks of streams. It was in just such a place as this that the present photograph was taken. The flowers are bright yellow, streaked with brown, and the dark green leaves are kidney-shaped and entire. Although there are several other violets with yellow flowers to be found in Switzerland, no other species has broad kidney-shaped leaves. The smooth, erect flower stalk, which also bears some leaves, frequently divides into two near the middle, each branch being terminated by a bright yellow flower. This character, which has given to the violet its name, is, however, by no means constant, and flower stems bearing a single or three or more flowers are also often seen. The number of flowers borne by the plant would seem rather to be determined by its size and vigour, which, of course, again depend largely on the conditions under which it grows.