84 VIOLACE^ 



the honey, his tongue pushes the anther spurs aside, and this has the effect 

 of ojDening the pollen-chamber and letting a little shower of the dry grains 

 fall upon his face. On visiting another Violet, this pollen will be at once 

 deposited upon the stigma, and so effect cross-fertilization of its seeds. A 

 few carefully -gathered Violets and a bristle or fine grass-stem Avill enal)le the 

 reader to fully appreciate the beauty of this arrangement. Yet for some 

 reason, not definitely known, these flowers produce but few seeds. Later in 

 the season there appear the imperfect, never-opening (cleisiogamous) flowers 

 alluded to under K hirta, which give origin to well-filled seed capsules. 



In all Eastern countries the Violet is a favourite flower, and a sherbet 

 flavoured with its blossoms is a common drink at the Persian and Arabian 

 banquets. The flower is sold in the modern markets there, as it is in those 

 of Paris or London, and as it was in those of Athens in former years, when 

 people were employed to arrange bouquets for gifts, so as to be expressive 

 of the sentiments of the donor. 



In olden times this species was called the March Violet, and it is still the 

 Marzveilchen of the Germans, and the Violette de Mars of the French. Gerarde 

 also calls it Black Violet, perhaps because of its purple hue, or possibly 

 because Theophrastus having described the Violet as black, our herbalists thus 

 distinguished the species which they supposed to be intended by the ancient 

 writers. " They have," he says, "a great prerogative above the other Violets, 

 not only because the minde conceiveth a certaine pleasure and recreation by 

 smelling and handling these most odoriferous flowers, but also for that very 

 many by these Violets receive ornaments and comely gi^ace ; for there be made 

 of them garlands for the head, nosegaies, and posies, which are delightful to 

 look upon, and pleasant to smell to, speaking nothing of their appropriate 

 virtues ; yea, gardens themselves receive by these the greatest ornament of 

 all cheerful beautie and most gallant grace. And the recreation of the minde 

 which is taken thereby cannot but be very good and honest, for they 

 admonish and stir up a man to do that which is comely and honest ; for 

 flowers, through their beautie, variety of colour, and exquisite forme, doe 

 Ijring to a liberal and gentlemanly minde the remembrance of honestie, come- 

 linesse, and all kindes of virtues. For it would be an unseemelie thing for him 

 that doth look upon and handle faire and beautiful things, and who frequenteth 

 and is conversant in faire and beautiful things, to have his minde not faire but 

 filthie and deformed." The old herbalist was right ; the love of flowers has a 

 refining and elevating influence, and the flower has so much to tell the 

 listening heart of God's care and goodness in creation, that he is indeed slow 

 to learn the highest lessons, who shall gain no thought of their Maker while 

 looking at them, and whose heart shall never utter the sentiment of Linnteus, 

 " Blessed be God for the green earth !" 



Pliny, and our old herbalists, had much to relate of the properties of the 

 Violets. The Eoman naturalist said that their odour cured the headache, and 

 that great healing virtues existed both in leaf and flower. In modern 

 practice a syrup of Sweet Violets is occasionally given to children, and the 

 tincture of the flowers is a useful chemical test, uncombined acids changing 

 the blue to red, and alkalies to green. By some l)otanists the flowers are 

 considered anodyne in properties. Professor Lindley says, " They certainly 



