THALAMIFLORZ 63 
it has been employed as a laxative. It is said to 
render the eyes lustrous and to enlarge the pupil. 
Other old remedies were based on its diuretic 
properties. It was supposed to cure gravel or stone. 
Woods are the special habitat of the Sweet Violet, 
where it grows in wide patches, and another favourite 
haunt is a hedge bank, under bushes. 
It is also found on roadsides and in fields where 
the grass is long uponasunny bank. It is commonly 
accompanied by the Lesser Celandine. 
Probably its habit of growing in associated patches 
is due to the fact that the rootstock produces stoles 
or runners, which root again at intervals, arising 
from the axils of the terminal rosettes. These 
stoles are long, and reach far beyond the original 
stock. The Sweet Violet is thus a prostrate trailer. 
The leaves are cordate, with a crenate margin, 
smooth above and glossy, with hairs below, and 
when young the margin is revolute. There are 
ovate lanceolate stipules or bracts above the middle 
of the peduncle. They are membraneous, with 
glandular teeth. The petioles are smooth. 
The flowers are blue or white, the lateral petals 
downy near the base. The anther spurs are lanceo- 
late. Thestyle ishooked. There are five filaments. 
The stigma is oblique and very little longer than 
the anthers. The capsule is globular, purple, downy, 
with three round hollow valves. The seeds are 
numerous and shining, with a short appendage. 
The fruit stalk hangs down in fruit. 
