The poetry, the romance, the scenery of every country, 

 is embroidered with violets. 



Violets dim 



But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes 

 Or Cytherea's breath. Shaks. 



It has a scent as though love, for its dower 



Had on it all his odorous arrows tost; 

 For though the rose has more perfuming power, 



The violet (haply 'cause 'tis almost lost, 

 And takes us so much trouble to discover) 



Stands first with most, but always with a lover. 



Cornwall. 



The prizes of the Floral Games of the Ancients, con- 

 sisted of a golden violet. 



And Virgin's-bower, trailing airily, 

 With others of the sisterhood. 



Keats. 



And in that golden vase was set, 

 The prize the golden violet. 



L.E.L. 



Butler, in ridicule of love speeches, and, at the same 

 time, in recognition of the lover's attachment to this flower, 

 makes his hero, Hudibras, say to his mistress: 



Where'er you tread your foot shall set 

 The primrose and the violet. 



The flower of the genus Viola, has a perianth inferior, 

 short, permanent, of five ovate-oblong, erect leaves, extended 

 at their base. Corolla of five petals, irregular, spurred be- 

 hind, unequal. Nectary projecting betwixt the calyx leaves. 



VIRGIN'S BOWER. 

 Clematis. 



Clematis, L. from the G/. xx.^*, a vine-shoot, tendril, 

 twig. 



The flowers of this genus have no calyx. Petals four, 

 five, or six, sometimes eight, oblong, lax, pubescent. Seeds 

 tailed. 



There are many species of them scattered over the globej 

 several indigenous to America. 



The C. Cirrhosa, Evergreen Virgin's bower called in 

 England sometimes Traveller's joy, wild climber, bride's 

 wreath, virgin's bower, etc. Is a native of Andalusia quite 

 hardy, first cultivated in England by Gerard, plants of which 

 have stood more than fiRy years, in the Chelsea garden. It 

 has white flowers, petals large, elliptical, pubescent on the 

 outside. Peduncle, or flower-stalk, scarcely an inch long, 

 lateral, axillary, one-flowered. Stem, woody, resembling that 

 of the vine, sending out branches from every joint, which 

 renders it a thick bus iy plant. Leaves, on the same plant, 

 both simple and ternate. 



C. Viorna, native of Virginia and Carolina. Root pe- 

 rennial; has purple or bluish-violet flowers, petals with a 

 whitish cottony border. Anthers terminated with a tuft of 

 hairs. Leaves, compound and twice compound, opposite, 

 petioled; leaflets from nine to twelve, three on each pinna, 

 generally entire. Seeds with long plumose tails. 



WALL FLOWER. 



Cheiranthus. 

 (See Gilly Flower.) 



Cheiranthus, comprehends Gilly Flower, and Wall 

 Flower. 



Wall Flower is the Keiri of the Arabians. The mo- 

 dern name Cheiranthus, for wall-Jlower, and the stock, was 

 given by Linnaeus, who derived it from the Arab-c. 



C. Cheiri, named by Gerard, Yellow Stock, and Wall 

 Gilly-flower, is one of the cruciform flowers, having only 

 four petals, which expand in the form of a cross. The two 

 principal varieties are the yellow, and the yellow and bloody. 

 Numerous trivial varieties have arisen from these. 



It is the flower with which the romance writers embel- 

 lish all decaying embankments, falling towers, and monastic 

 ruins; enlivening those relics of more prosperous times, by 

 its gay foliage, and sweet perfume fit emblem of "Fidelity 

 in Misfortune." 



The Wall-Jlower springs from the disjointed stones. 



Greenwood. 



To me it speaks of loveliness 



That passes not with youth; 

 Of beauty which decay can bless, 



Of constancy and truth. 



But in adversity's dark hour 

 When glory is gone by; 



It then exerts its gentle power 

 The scene to beautify. 



An emblem true thou art 



Of love's enduring lustre, given 

 To cheer a lonely heart. 



B. Barton- 



Same. 



To late summer's fragrant breath 

 Clematis' feathery garlands dance. 



Snvith. 



WEEPING WILLOW. 



Salix Babylonica. 



Salix, according to some etymologists, derived from 

 salio, to rise or spring up. In allusion to the quick growth of 

 these plants. 



The Greek synonyme, means to go, because it grows fast. 

 De Theis deduces salix from the Celtic sal, near, and lis, 

 water; applicable to the ordinary situation of the Willow 

 tribe. The Weeping Willow is usually planted near the wa- 

 ter, over which its drooping foJiage has an appropriate and 

 picturesque effect, yet we are told that it thrives best in a 

 dry gravelly soil, being then less apt to split or decay. 



It received its name Salix Babylonica from Linnaeus, 

 in allusion to the 137th Psalm. 



Afflicted Israel shall sit weeping down, 



Their harps upon the neighb'ring willows hnng, 



Nor joyous hymn encouraging their tongue. Prior. 



