This fpecies was well known to the older Botanifts ; but, 

 owin<* to the imperfection of their wooden cuts, has frequently- 

 been confounded with tricolor. It is a native of Siberia, Swit- 

 zerland, and of moft mountainous dinricts in fouthern Europe. 



The term arborefcens was applied to it, not from any woodinefs 

 in the ftem, which is perfectly herbaceous, but merely on account 

 of its gigantic ftature, when compared with the common violet : 

 a loofe way of fpeaking not unufual in thofe times. 



It varies in height from lix inches to a foot and half; is 

 ufually without fcent j but Matthiolus mentions his receiving 

 a violet, apparently of this fpecies, from Calzolarius, who 

 gathered it on Monte Baldo, and which had a charming odour. 



Willich, in his obfervations, remarks that the corollas, 

 which in the lower flowers are large and fhewy, become fmaller 

 in the fuperior ; and that the uppermoft flowers have none at all ; 

 and Roth obferves, that the inferior flowers with large corollas 

 are frequently barren, but that the fuperior apetalous flowers 

 which continue blowing later in the fummer, are conftantly 

 fertile. This circumflance, of fertile flowers without corollas 

 continuing to be produced after all the fhewy blofloms axe over, 

 is common to feveral fpecies of violets. 



A hardy perennial; propagated by parting its roots; flowers 

 va May and June. Cultivated by Mr. James Sutherland, 

 in the Edinburgh Garden, in 1683, Communicated by the 

 Hon. Mr. Herbert. 





