56 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



by some authors that this is the plant called in the Scriptures Hyssop, and the 

 one used to sprinkle the doorposts and lintels with blood, in Egypt; also the 

 plant mentioned in connection with the wisdom of bulomon, when it is stated 

 that he knew all the plants, from the " cedar of Lebanon unto the Hyssop 

 that springetli out of the wall : " but this has been disputed, and claims have 

 been made for a genus of the mint family. 



The flower-buds are collected by women and children (whose hands and 

 wrists are torn by the sharp thorns by which every leaf-stalk is guarded), 

 placed in salt or vinegar, and in Italy the fruit in an unripe state is also 

 gathered and prepared just as the undeveloped flower-buds are. It was car- 

 ried to the south of France by Greek colonists, and has been grown largely 

 since that time near Marseilles. It grows best in rocky places or among 

 ruins. Gerard says it refuses to be domesticated. 



Use. — The medicinal qualities of the caper are stimulant, anti-scorbutic, 

 aperient, diuretic, and stomachic. 



In Italy, the unripe fruit, which is very pungent, is eaten not only as a pickle 

 but as a salad, and is also cooked Avith meat. The undeveloped flower-buds 

 are sent abroad, and are used in this country to flavor sauces and dressings 

 for boiled meats. 



The fruit of the C. soldada resembles currants, and is eaten in the same 

 manner. The fruit of the C. ferruginea has the taste of mustard, and is 

 largely used as a condiment for meats. 



Order VL VIOLACE-^]. 



Flowers perfect, irregular, axillary, mostly solitary, 2 bracts, 

 usually at the base or near the middle of pedicel. Sepals 5, mostly 

 free, persistent. Petals 5, li}^3ogynous, alternate with the sepals, 

 unequal, lower one dissimilar and prolonged into a hollow spur, below 

 the insertion. Stamens 5, inserted on the bottom of the calyx ; fila- 

 ments short, dilated, usually free. Ovary free, sessile; style simple. 

 Fruit a capsule, many-seeded, with parietal placentae. Seeds ovoid, or 

 globose ; testa membranous. Leaves alternate, stipulate. Herb. 



No. of genera, about 21. 



VIOLA, L. (Violet.) Sepals 5, unequal, and eared at base. Petals 5, 

 unequal, the broad one spurred at base, 2 lateral ones equal. Sta- 

 mens 5, approaching ; filaments free ; anthers connate ; capsule 1 -celled, 

 3-valved ; seeds attached at the middle of the valves. Pedicels angular, 

 solitary, 1-flowered, curved at the summit. Flowers nodding in an 

 inverted position. Perennial herbs. 



1. V. blanda, Willd. (Delicate Violet.) Leaves cordate or kidney-shaped, 

 crenate, toothed or entire, early ones orbicular, flat and thin, head of sinus 

 rounded. Flowers Avhite, odorous, and small ; sepals ovate ; petals ovate, ob- 

 tuse, frequently striped with purple, slightly bearded. Stigma depressed, 

 margined. April and May. 



Geography. — Found in wet jdaces from Canada to Peunsylvauia. 



2 V. Canadensis, L. (Canada Violet.) Stem 9 to 18 inches high, smooth, 

 slender. Leaves prominently heart-shaped, and acuminate or pointed, irreg- 

 ularly serrate, lower ones on long petioles ; stipules large, ovate-lanceolate, 



