20 vioLACE.T>. [Violaceoe. 



Ordeh XII. VIOLACE^. 



Sepals 5, imbricate in the bud. Petals 5, hypogynoiis, alternate with the 

 sepals, contorted in the bud. Stamens 5, hypogynous, alternate with the petals; 

 filaments very short ; anthers introrse, connected in a ring round the ovary. 

 Ovary free, 1-celled, with 3, rarely 4 or 5, parietal placentas. Style sim- 

 ple. Fruit a capside, opening in as many valves as placentas, or rarely an in- 

 dehiscent berry. Seeds inserted along the centre of the valves. Embryo in 

 the axis of a copious albumen, tbe radicle next the hilum. — Herbs or shrubs. 

 Leaves alternate or rarely opposite, with stipules. Flowers hermaphrodite, 

 very irregular or nearly regular. 



The Order is generally distributed over the globe, the shrubby genera mostly confined to 

 the tropics, the herbaceous ones more abundant in temperate regions. 



1. VIOLA, Linn. 



Sepals nearly equal, produced at the base below their insertion. Petals un- 

 equal, the upper one largest, and produced into a spur or pouch at the base. 

 Fruit a capsule. — Herbs. Stipules persistent. Peduncles axillary, 1- or rarely 

 2 -flowered. 



A large genus, widely spread over the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, more 

 rare within the tropics with a few more southern species. 



Stock emitting stolones. Stipides free \. V. diffusa. 



No stolones. Stipules adnate to the petiole. 



Leaves ovate or lanceolate. Stigma dilated 2. V. Patrinii. 



Leaves cordate. Stigma slightly dilated 3. F. confusa. 



1. V. diffusa, Ging. in DC. Prod. i. 298. A pubescent or hairy peren- 

 nial. Stock tufted, emitting stolones or runners, but not lengthening into a 

 distinct stem. Leaves radical, ovate or oval-oblong, crenate, about 1 in. long, 

 the petiole flattened, usually longer. Stipules free, linear-lanceolate, toothed. 

 Flowers light-coloured, without scent. Sepals lanceolate. Stigma club-shaped, 

 almost capitate. — F. tenuis, Benth. in Lond. Journ. Bot. i. 482, and in Kew 

 Journ. Bot. iii. 260. 



Common on the summits of the hills, Champion and others. Extends to Sikkim and 

 Khasia in N.E. India. In this and in the two following s])ecies, as in our European Violets, 

 the showy petaliferous flowers appear to be usually sterile although hermaphrodite, the cap- 

 sules proceeding mostly from raiimte apetalous flowers produced later in the season. 



2. V. Patrinii, DC. Prod. i. 293. A glabrous or slightly pubescent per- 

 ennial, with a tufted stock, as in the last species, but without stolones. 

 Leaves ovate or lanceolate, \\ to 2|^ in. long, truncate or very slightly cordate 

 at the base. Stipules linear, adnate to the petiole. Flowers light-blue? 

 Sepals lanceolate. Stigma bordered on each side with a flat margin. 



Common with the last on the summits of the hills, Champion and others. Widely spread 

 over Northern India and Southern Siberia. 



3. V. confusa. Champ, in Keic Journ. Bot. iii. 260. A slightly pubescent 

 tufted perennial like the last, but much smaller, and resembling some small 

 specimens of the European V. liirta ; lowest leaves nearly orbicular, the others 

 ovate and all deeply cordate, obtuse and crenate. Stipules small, adnate to 

 the petioles. Flowers like those of F. hirta ; but smaller. Sepals lanceolate, 

 2 lines long. Petals 5 lines loner. Stimia slightlv dilated. 



