280 VIOLACE^. [paut ii. 



There are five petals which are also irregular 

 in their construction, two of them being much 

 larger than the others, and generally of a dif- 

 ferent colour ; and one even of the other three 

 being quite different in form to its companions. 

 The two large petals at the back of the flower, 

 which in the common Heartsease are generally 

 dark purple, are laid over each other, and be- 

 hind the two below them. These two side- 

 petals, which form the centre of the flower, are 

 both furred at the base ; and the lower petal, 

 which is placed between them, has its claw 

 drawn out behind into a spur, which passes 

 between two of the sepals; and which, when 

 the flower is looked at from behind, appears to 

 be part of the calyx. The furred part of the 

 two side-petals forms a triangular, roof-like 

 opening, peeping out of which, is seen a small 

 pale-green ball-like substance, which a fanciful 

 imagination might liken to a head looking 

 through a dormer window ; and this is all that is 

 to be seen in place of the usual apparatus of 

 stamens and pistils. As all seed-producing 

 flowers must have stamens and pistils, and as it is 

 weU known that Heartseases and Violets do pro- 

 duce seed in abundance, it is clear that these 

 important organs are not wanting ; but where 

 are they ? It is easy to guess, after being so 

 far initiated in the mysteries of botany, that the 

 little globular body is a part of the pistil ; but 



