20 FLOWERS OF THE WOODS .AND COPSES 
autumn and look like buds, but later appear to be capsules. These 
have more numerous seeds than those of the spring flowers, They 
hang down upon the ground, and when ripe the capsule bursts and the 
seeds are sown around the plant in the ground. Often if the soil is 
loose the capsule is buried before the seed is mature, The seeds are 
dispersed by ants, the elaiosomes possessing nutritive matter, or are 
jerked out by the wind. The capsule when ripe splits open. 
The Sweet Violet is infested by the fungi Peronospora viole, 
Phyllosticta viole, Ascochyta viole (Violet leaf blotch), Cercospora viole 
(Violet leaf spot), Aernaria viole (Violet spot disease), and Puccenza 
viole, Urocystis viole grow upon it. Azgynuis adippe, the High Brown 
Fritillary, lives on it. 
Pliny gave the name V7o/a, Latin for Violet. Theophrastus called 
it Jon, because it was first presented to Jove by lonic nymphs, or 
because when Io was changed into a cow the earth brought forth the 
Violet. The second Latin name refers to its sweet-scented character. 
The Violet is called Appel-leaf, Bairnwort, Banwort, Blaver, Bessy 
Banwood, Fine-leaf, Vilip, Violet (Blue-, English-, March-, Sweet- 
Violet). 
Shakespeare, in referring to the metempsychosis or transfer of souls 
in the form of flowers, in //amzdet, makes Laertes wish violets may 
spring from Ophelia’s grave: 
“ Lay her in the earth, 
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh 
May violets spring.” 
This may be compared with Persius, Sa¢zves: 
“IK tumulo fortunataque favilla 
Nascentur violae”. 
Tennyson also writes: 
“ And from his ashes may be made 
The violet of his native land”. 
To dream of the violet was said to mean advancement in life. 
It was used in garlands and spring bridal bouquets in ancient 
Greece. 
In spite of its association with early death, it is the emblem of 
constancy, 
“Violet is for faithfulness, 
Which in me shall abide, 
Hoping likewise that from your heart 
You will not let it hide.” 
