V I o 



V I o 



membranes at the tip : the pistillum is R superior 

 germ, roundish: Btyle filiform, prominent be- 

 yond ihe anthers : stigma oblique : the pcricar- 

 pium is an ovale capsule, three-cornered, ol>- 

 tuse, one-celled, three- valved : the seeds many, 

 ovale, appendiclcd, fastened to tlte valves : the 

 receptacle linear, running like a line along each 

 valve. 



The species cultivated arc: I. V. oderata, 

 Sweet Violet : 2. V. pithitata, Palmated Violet ; 

 3. /' pedata, Multilid-leavcd Violet; 4. V. 

 tricolor, Pansy Violet or Heart's Ease. 



The first has a fibrous whitish root ; in old 

 plains the upper part becomes knobby, and ap- 

 pears above ground, ihe knobs being formed 

 from the ba<e of the petioles which are left 

 yearly ; from the bosom of these knobs spring 

 the scions or runners which creep on the ground, 

 and are furnished with leaves and the same kind 

 of stipules which are observable at the bottom of 

 the plant; these runners are very long, and in 

 general do not produce (lowers till the second 

 year: the leaves somewhat rounded at the tip, 

 notched at the edge, on the upper side smooth 

 and shining, underneath slightly hairy, when 

 young rolled in at the edges on longish upright 

 nearly smooth footstalks, which sometimes, 

 however, have a few scattered hairs: the stipules 

 from the stump of the root in pairs, lanceolate, 

 toothed, pale : each tooth terminates in a minute 

 gland: the flower-slalks springing from the 

 root, taller than the leaves, smooth, bearing a 

 pair of narrow bractes, pressed to the stalk, and 

 placed above the middle of it : they are incur- 

 vated at top, and support one nodding flower of 

 a dark purple colour. It is a native of every 

 part of Europe, flowering in March and April. 

 It is in general very highly esteemed for its fra- 

 grance. 



There are different varieties : as the single 

 blue and white, the double blue and white, 

 and the pale purple ; it is also found with while 

 flowers; and it has been found wild with 

 double flowers. This variety is in much esteem, 

 both for the superior size of the flowers and 

 their extreme fragrancy ; and as they appear 

 later they keep up the succession. 



The second species has a perennial root : the 

 leaves live- parted : the segments ovale: the 

 middle segment wider: the outer one toothed 

 onlv at the base. It is a native of Virginia, 

 flowering here in May and June. 



It is curious, and rare in this country, having 

 no sweet scent to recommend it. 



The third has the leaves divided into seven 

 parts or lobes, which are sometimes toothed ; 

 they are of the sort called pedate : the flowers 

 stand upon naked foot-stalks, arc blue, and have 



Vol. II. 



no scent. It is a native of North America, 

 flowering in June. 



The fourth has the stem about four or six 

 inches high, angular, pubescent, at bottom of 

 a dull purple colour : branches alternate, erect : 

 the leaves alternate, petioled, hairy especially 

 about the edge, but sometimes smooth ; the 

 lowermost often smaller and roundish, the up- 

 permost narrow and slightlv indented : the pe- 

 duncles alternate, nearly quadrangular, chan- 

 nelled on the back, bent in at top : the petals 

 obcordatc, shorter than the calyx, and wl 

 or yellow-white, in its wild State, but I 

 than the calyx, and variegated with yellow and 

 purple in gardens. The truly wild plant has 

 sometimes a few purple streaks, and in a some- 

 what improved state is blue or purplish, with or 

 without yellow or white. It is a native of Eu- 

 rope and Japan, flowering from Mav to Sep- 

 tember. 



It varies with more than two colours ; as 

 purple, blue, yellow, white, improved and en- 

 larged by garden culture. 



Culture. — The first sort may be increased by 

 seeds or parting the roots : the seeds may be 

 sown in a bed of light earth, soon after they 

 become ripe, in the beginning of autumn ; and 

 when they have some growth be removed into 

 a shady border, until the autumn, w hen they 

 may be set out where they arc to grow. The 

 double-flowered sorts afford no seed. The best 

 mode is, however, by parting the roots in the 

 early autumn, or after they have flowered, and 

 planting them out in the borders, or in beds at 

 good distances, at the latter season watering 

 them well. When intended for flowers they 

 should not be parted oftencr than once in three 

 or four years. 



The second and third sorts succeed best by 

 being planted in pots filled with loam and boir 

 earth well mixed, plunging them in the moulS 

 of a north border, where they should be protect- 

 ed in winter, or removed under a common hot- 

 bed frame. 



The fourth sort rises readily from scattered 

 seeds, and may be raised by sowing the 

 where the plants are lo grow in the autumn or 

 spring. 



They may likewise be increased bv planting 

 out the off-set slips of the large bushy plants, 

 taken off with root-fibres, in the autumn or 

 spring, in the borders, or in beds for incre 

 their growth. The varieties may be preserved 

 in this way with safety. 



These plants afford variety in the borders and 

 other parts; and the first sort is useful for the 

 flower-. 



VIOLET. See Viola. 

 3 T 



