10 NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
VIL—VIOLARIE.—Vioter Tre. 
This, like the preceding family, consists for the most part of extra-tropical plants, a 
few only being found of strictly tropical origin. By far the greater portion of its species are 
herbaceous or low half shrubby plants, but larger shrubs or even small trees also occupy a 
place in its ranks. One of the latter is found in Ceylon, and most probably also on the 
continent, though I have as yet failed to recognize it. Of the truly tropical forms, two specie 
are found inCoromandel,small decumbent plants with pink flowers,but so unlike the tree biog 
let and heart’s-ease, that no one unacquainted with the formation of these flowers could recognize 
their relationship, Others grow on the Andes in Peru still more unlike, andso much resembling 
a Stone-crop in the form of the plant that, not even an acute Botanist would, without the vi 
and seed vessel, suspect them to be violets even in the Botanical sense of the term, which 
ismuch wider than common parlance admits. In common language, we have the violet 
( Viola odorata) the Dog violet ( Viola canina ) and afew others, but some florists do not 
admit that the Heart’s-ease ( Viola tricolor ) is a violet, though one of the most perfect of the 
genus. 
The Violacious plants form a numerous family, amounting to nearly 500 species, 
These are scattered over nearly the whole globe, but very sparingly in India. North America 
and Europe are their two grand centres, but they are also numerous in South America, both 
on the mountains and plains. On the Andes they present the appearance of small-rounded 
leafy little shrubs, not unlike some of the European stone crops (sedum), in Brazil shrubby 
and small arborious forms prevail, True violets are however of rare occurrence in the latter 
country. 
VIOLA.— Violet. 
Sepals five, persistent ; zestivation imbricated. Petals hypogynous, five, usually withering, generally 
unequal ; zstivation obliquely convolute. Stamens five, alternate with the petals, or occasionally opposite 
to them, inserted on the hypogynous dise or torus: anthers bilocular, introrse, closely approximated or 
united laterally to each other: filaments dilated, elongated beyond the anthers ; two of them, in the irre 
gular flowers, usually with an appendage at the base. Ovary 1-celled, with many (rarely one) ovules : style 
single, usually declinate, with an oblique ecucullate stigma. Capsule three-valved, loculicide, bearing the 
placenta on the middle of the valves. Embryo straight, erect, in the axis of a fleshy albumen.—Leaves alter- 
nate, rarely opposite, with persistent stipules and an involute vernation.— W. and A, Prod. p. 31 
is genus includes at the present time upwards of 150 species. These for the most part are low 
growing herbaceous perennial plants, some, however, show a shrubby tendency. ‘Two or three are found on 
the Neilgherries, but the one here figured is by far the most common, showing its pale blue flowers among the 
gras sin all directions, rapidly propagating itself by means of runners, like strawberries. By an oversight of 
the draftsman, and want of room, these have not been introduced, and to that extent the figure is imperfect, 
but in other respects gives a good idea of the plant. Itisin flower at all seasons. In genera) appearance 
this species much resembles th tseented violet butis destitute of fragrance. Of all the long list of 
Species of this genus only two or three species are cultivated in the flower garden, namely, the Pansy or Heart's- 
ease ( Viola tricolor) and the sweet scented violet (Viola odorata) the former most justly esteemed for the 
admirable blending of its colours, and the latter for its charming fragrance. There are many varieties of both 
in cultivation. The Viola tricolor derives its English name Pansy from the French ‘“ pensée” the meaning 
of which is alluded to by Shakspeare when he says “ There’s Pansies that’s for thought.” 
