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 clown 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 viola, 

 Phyllosticta viola, Ascockyta viola (Violet leaf blotch), Cercospora viola 

 (Violet leaf spot), Alternaria viola (Violet spot disease), and Puccinia 

 viola, Urocystis viola grow upon it. Argyunis adippc, the High Brown 

 Fritillary, lives on it. 



Pliny gave the name Viola, Latin for Violet. Theophrastus called 

 it Ion, because it was first presented to Jove by Ionic nymphs, or 

 because when lo 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 Hamlet, 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, Satires'. 



" E 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." 



