Viola.] VIOLACEM. 



31 



been seen in perfection when entirely submerged. Pouch nearly ap- 

 proaching that of Draba, but with more turgid or convex valves. 

 Embryo with cotyledons linear, long, and the curvature takes place 

 above the base of the cotyledons, not at the very base, as in most of 

 the Crucifera:. Hook. 



Ord. 7. VIOLACEiE. Juss. Violet Family. 



Sepals 5, persistent, with an imbricated aestivation, often pro- 

 duced at the base. Petals 5, generally unequal, with an oblique 

 convolute aestivation. Stamens 5, on an hypogynous disk, often 

 unequal : filaments dilated beyond the anthers, two often with 

 an appendage : anthers opening inwards, 2-celled. Ovary 

 1 -celled, mostly with many ovules : placentas 3, parietal : style 1, 

 persistent, often curved, with an oblique and frequently per- 

 forated stigma. Capsule of 3-valves which bear the placentae. 

 Seeds often carunculated at the base. Embryo straight, in the 

 axis of a fleshy albumen. — Herbs or small shrubs. Leaves sim- 

 ple, stipuled. 



Viola. Linn. Violet. 



Calyx of 5 sepals extended at the base. Petals 5, unequal, the 

 under one spurred at the base. Anthers connate, two of them 

 spurred behind. Capsule of one cell, and three valves. — 

 Name according to some from " A vi olendi" from the power 

 of its scent. Pentandria. Monogynia. 



* Stemless, or nearly so. 



1. V. hirta, Linn. Hairy Violet. Leaves cordate, rough, as 

 well as the petioles and capsules with hairs ; calyx-leaves ob- 

 tuse, lateral ; petals with a hairy central line ; creeping scions 

 none. Br. Fl. 1. p. 105. E. Fl. v. i. p. 301. E. Bot. t. 894. 



Sandy fields, banks and woods. Plentiful on banks by the sea be- 

 tween Clontarf and Kilbarrick Church. On the sand hills and on 

 ditch banks at Portinamock, and elsewhere about Dublin. Wood at 

 Blarney, near Cork ; Rev. Dr. Hindis. Fl. April, May. %. — Stigma 

 an oblique point in this and the four following species. Flowers pale, 

 rather dingy blue, scentless, nearly allied to V. odorata ; distin- 

 guished, as Mr. Curtis well observes, by the short and creeping scions, 

 by the greater hairiness of the plant, and the situation of the little 

 bracteae of the scape ; here below, in V. odorata above the middle. 

 I have frequently observed, at Portmarnock, this species, immediately 

 after flowering, elongate its flower-stalks, in a downward direction, to a 

 very considerable length, and bury the ripening capsule two or three 

 inches under the sand in the dry banks where it grows. Dr. Hooker 

 remarks that this and the following species are often destitute of petals 

 and yet bear fruit. 



2. V. odorata, Linn. Sweet Violet. Leaves cordate, and as 

 well as the petioles nearly glabrous ; calyx-sepals obtuse ; lateral 



