242 XIX. VIOLAEIE^. 



thylacium, Melieytus, Hymenanthera). SEEDS ovoid or subglobose; testa crustaceous 

 or membranous, raphe sometimes thickened and separating when ripe ; albumen 

 fleshy, copious. EMBRYO axile, straight ; cotyledons flat, broad or narrow ; radicle 

 cylindric, near the hilum. 



TRIBE I. VIOLET. 

 Corolla irregular, lower petal dissimilar. Fruit a capsule. 



PRINCIPAL GENKUA. 

 * Viola. lonidiuiu. Agation. 



TRIBE II. PAYPAYROLEJE. 



Petals subequal, claws contiguous, and sub-coherent in a tube. Fruit a 



capsule. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 



Isodendrion. Paypayrola. Auiphirrhox. 



TRIBE III. ALSODINEM. 

 Petals equal or subequal, very shortly clawed. Fruit a berry or capsule. 



PRINCIPAL GENERA. 

 Alsodein. Leonia. Hymenanthera. Melicytus. 



Sauoagesiete, of which wo have given a figure near Tiulariiff, are so closely allied to them that several 

 botanists have united them. They are distinguished only by the presence of five-oo staminodes placed 

 outside the stamens, and by the three valvea of the capsule being seminiferous on their edges. ViolanM 

 also approach Droseracea: in isostemony, the one-celled ovary with parietal placentation, the capsule with 

 placentiferous valves, and the albuminous seed ; hut in Dn>scracc<t the anthers are extrorse, the styles are 

 distinct, the embryo is minute and ba.sil.ir. They have the same affinities with Frankeniacea-, which have 

 also a simple style and an axile embryo, but their calyx is tubular and elongate, their anthers are extrorso, 

 their ovules ascending, their leaves usually opposite and exstipulatc. They are also connected with 

 Cistineee (which see). 



The herbaceous species of the tribe Fioleee principally inhabit the northern hemisphere; they are rare 

 in the temperate regions of the southern hemisphere and in the tropics; the woody species of this tribe 

 are chiefly natives of equatorial America. The other tribes inhabit the intertropical region of both worlds, 

 and especially of America. Hymenanthera inhabits Australia and New Zealand. 



The active principle of Violece (violine) is a substance analogous in properties to emetine (see Cephalia), 

 the emetic and laxative properties of which it shares. Violine is principally found in the root and 

 rootstock, from which, as well as from the leaves, has also been extracted a peculiar acid ; and the scented 

 petals contain a volatile oil. The root of the European violets, and especially of the Sweet Violet (Viola 

 odontta), is slightly bitter and acrid, recalling the taste of Ipecacuanha ; the flowers, which are sweet- 

 scented butnauseous in taste, are used in syrup and infused as emollient^ and cough-mixtures. The stem and 

 leaves of the Wild Pansy (V. tricolor) are frequently administered as a depurative tisane in cutaneous 

 disorders. The American Violets (V. pedata and palmatti) are similarly employed. V. ovata is a reputed 

 specific against rattlesnake bites. Some species of lonidium, in South America, are used as substitutes for 

 Ipecacuanha; the root of I. Ipecacuanha especially, the White Ipecacuanha of commerce, is a powerful 

 emetic, peculiarly suited to lymphatic temperaments. The root >f Aiwhit'tfii miliiturig, a small Brazilian 

 tree, is purgative, and useful, like our wild Pansy, in skin aflections. lonidium inicnijihi/lluin, a species 



