VIOLET FAMILY 



consist of a calyx, very active and vital stamens, and 

 a pistil. They are exceedingly fertile and produce 

 seeds during the stunmer, long after the normal flowers 

 have passed. 



The Violet is a classical plant and is mentioned by 

 Homer and Virgil. It was dear to the Athenians, who 

 deemed themselves most complimented when called 

 violet-crowned. Ion was its Greek name, and Shake- 

 speare, referring to Ophelia, alludes to the old tradition 

 which said that this flower was raised from the body of 

 lo by the agency of Diana: 



"Lay her i' the earth — 

 And from her fair and unpolluted flesh 

 May violets spring." 



Homer writes of Violets upon the rushy banks of 

 Medes: "Everywhere appeared meadows of softest 

 verdure, purpled o'er with Violets. It was a scene to 

 fill a god from heaven with wonder and delight." 



Professor Meehan assures us that there is some 

 ground for supposing that the old Latin name for this 

 flower, Viola, which Linnaeus adopted, is from the same 

 root as via, a path or road, and refers to the fact that 

 this flower was so often the traveller's companion be- 

 side the path as he made his way through field or 

 forest. 



/ 



^ COMMON BLUE VIOLET 



"Viola cucuUdta. Viola palmdta, var. cuculldta 



Perennial, stemless flowers, violet-blue. Low grounds. 

 Common throughout the north. Abundant in northern 

 Ohio. April, May. 



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