VIOLAGEJS. 



345 



ing into the interior of the spur of the anterior petal. 1 The gynseceum 

 is free and superior ; it is composed of a unilocular ovary, sur- 

 mounted by a style, the apex of which is dilated into a kind of sac 

 or pocket, varying in form according to the species. On the an- 

 terior side of this dilatation is found an opening, more or less small, 

 conducting into a cavity lined with stigmatic tissue. The ovary 



Viola tricolor. 



Fig. 368. 

 Seed (£). 



Fig-. 367. 

 Dehiscent fruit. 



Fig. 369. 



Long. sect, of seed. 



contains three parietal and multiovulate placentas, two being ante- 

 rior, and the third posterior. The anatropous ovules 2 are arranged 

 in several ranks, their micropyle being directed towards the pla- 

 centa. The capsular fruit, generally accompanied at its base by the 

 dried calyx, opens elastically at maturity into three panels, bearing 

 upon the middle of their internal face an indefinite number of 

 seeds. 3 These are provided with a small arillate dilatation, springing 

 principally from the hilum, 4 and enclose under their coats 5 a fleshy 

 albumen, the axis of which is occupied by an elongated straight 



1 So that this receives the nectar secreted in 

 small quantities hy the glandular parts of the 

 spurs of the two stamens alternate with the 

 anterior petal. 



2 They have two coats. 



3 In several species there are only fertile 

 fruits in certain flowers produced in summer and 

 autumn, but little visible, apetalous or crypto- 

 petalous ; while the spring flowers, with well 

 developed brilliant flowers, are generally sterile. 



4 The aril of V. tricolor commences by a 

 slight subcircular thickening of the circum« 

 ference of the hiluni, and it is the same in the 

 other species. The circular cushion, formed of 

 fleshy, turgid, whitish cells, thus produced, after- 

 wards extends much on the side of the raphe, and 

 touches this for a variable length according to the 



species. At this side it often tapers to a point. 

 In the Viola odorata this thickening is after- 

 wards elongated into a cone, with soft lengthened 

 cells on the side of the placenta and of the 

 funicle, which is as though enclosed in it. In 

 several species the cellular hypertrophy reaches 

 the micropyle, which is effaced, and as though 

 lost in the edge of the aril covering it. The 

 arillate cells are very elastic, which assists 

 with the elasticity of the fruit-valve in project- 

 ing the ripe seeds. 



5 There are four ; that is to say, the middle 

 coat testaceous and ctustaceous, and the other 

 two thin, soft, and white. The arillate thicken- 

 ing is produced at the expense of a part of the 

 cells of the outer coat. 



