147 



opposite them, inserted on a hypogynous disk, often unequal ; anthers l)ilocular, iHirstini; 

 inwards, either separate or cohering-, and lying close upon the ovarium ; Jilumeuls dilated, 

 elongated beyond the anthers ; two, in the irregular flowers, generally I'lirnished with 

 an appendage or gland at their base. Ovarium 1-celled, many-seeded, or rarely 1 -seeded, 

 ■with 3 parietal placentre opposite the 3 outer sepals ; style single, usually declinate, 

 ■with an oblique hooded stHjma. Capsule of 3 valves, hearing the placenta; in their axis. 

 Seeds often with a tumour at their base; embryo straight, erect, in the axis of fleshy 



-albumen Herbaceous plants or shrubs. Leaves simple, usually alternate, sometimes 



opposite, stipulate, entire, with an involute vernation. Inflorescence various. 



Affinities. Mr. Brown, in speaking of Violacese, mentions, in his 

 Appendix to the Congo Voyage, a genus, at that time unpublished, called 

 Hymenauthera, having 5 scales alternating with the petals, with a bilocular 

 berry, in each cell of which is a single pendulous seed. It appears very 

 paradoxical to associate such a plant with an order otherwise well defined ; 

 and Mr. Brown himself seems to think it should be placed between Violeee 

 and Polygalese. The structure of this genus points out strongly the relation 

 of Violacese to Polygalese, to the latter of which, however, it rather ap- 

 pears to me to be referable. These two orders differ from each other, in 

 the latter having a 2-ceIled not 1 -celled ovarium, leaves without stipules, 

 and 1-celled anthers. Droseracese are known from Violacese by their nume- 

 rous styles, minute embryo, circinate leaves, and want of stipulse. Passi- 

 florese, to which the baccate genera of Violaceee, and especially Corynostylis 

 (Calyptrion, Dec), which has a twining stem, undoubtedly approach, are 

 distinguished by a multitude of characters. The irregular flowers, dilated 

 filaments and sepals, and stipulate leaves, of Violacese, usually indicate them 

 at once ; but the regular-flowered fruticose genera, which constitute the 

 tribe of Alsodinece, are not to be recognised by a combination of such 

 characters. 



GEociRAPiiY. Of these tribes, Violese chiefly consist of European, 

 Siberian, and American plants ; a few only being found within the tropics 

 of Asia. They are abundant in South America, the forms of which are, 

 however, materially different from those of the more temperate parts of the 

 world, most of them being shrubs, while the northern Violets are uniformly 

 herbaceous, or nearly so. Alsodineae are exclusively South American and 

 African, with the exception (?) of Pentaloba, which, upon the authority of 

 Loureiro, is Cochinchinese. Sauvageae are exclusively South American or 

 African. 



Properties. The roots of all Violacese appear to be more or less 

 emetic, a property which is strongly possessed by the South American 

 species, and in a less degree only by those of Europe. Hence they form 

 part of the herbs known under the name of Ipecacuanha. lonidium parvi- 

 florum is used by the Spanish Americans, and I. Poaya by the Brazilians, 

 as a substitute for Ipecacuanha. PL Us. 9. and 20. The root of another 

 species, called Poaya, Poaya da praia, and Poaya branca, the lonidium 

 Itubu of Kunth, is commonly sold as true Ipecacuanha, to which it ap- 

 proaches very nearly in its properties. At Pernambuco it is esteemed the 

 very best remedy that can be employed in dysentery; and the inhabitants 

 of Rio-Grande-do- Norte consider it a specific against gout. Ibid. no. 11. 

 The foliage of the Conohoria Lobolobo is used in Brazil for the same pur- 

 poses as Spinach with us. Boiled, it becomes mucilaginous. Ibid. 10. 

 Viola canina is reputed a powerful agent for the removal of cutaneous affec- 

 tions ; and Anchietea salutaris is accounted by the Brazilians not only a 

 purgative, but also a remedy against similar maladies. M. A. St. Ililaire 

 remarks, that this notion deserves attention, as connected with the depurative 

 properties ascribed in Europe to Viola canina, to which, although Anchietea 

 is botanically related,, there is nothing in its appearance which would have 



