62 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



Geography. — Sparingly naturalized in New York, and south to Georgia. 

 Around dweiliiigs, in dry, sandy soil. Brought to North America by English 

 colonists. 



Note. — This violet was brought to the notice of florists in England about 

 90 years ago, by Mary Benuet, daughter of the Earl of Tankerville, who, 

 aided by her father's gardener, produced several seedling varieties, the flowers 

 of which were greatly enlarged and beautified. From this beginning the 

 plant has been changed into the pansy of the present day. 



FAijmologj. — Viola is from the Greek "loi/, from the following myth; Jupi- 

 ter loved "loj, the daughter of luachus, first king of Argos, and on account of 

 the jealousy of Juno he transformed "loo into a beautiful white heifer, and im 

 mediately the earth brought forth the violet for her food ; hence its name, 

 the cow plant. It is also derived, by some, from the Latin vitula, a heifer, 

 by eliding the t and changing the u into o, making viola, the cow plant, or 

 heifer plant. 



Histori/. — It is not to be wondered at that this beautiful little flower should 

 have attracted the attention of the ancients. The early writers on plants 

 mention the violet on account of its beauty and delicacy, and it has been lauded 

 by both poets and painters. In the language of floAvers, the violet represents 

 faithfulness. 



It was the favorite flower of the Empress Josephine. On the day before 

 their marriage Napoleon Bonaparte sent her a bouquet of violets, after which 

 it became the court flower. 



It was the rallying sign of the Emperor's partisans, on his return from Elba. 

 It is related that two days before he set out on his exile journey, he, while 

 walking alone in the garden of Fontainebleau, asked a little child to give him 

 a bunch of violets he had gathered. These he shoAved to some of his officers, 

 remarking that he considered the floAver an emblem of modesty Avhich he pro- 

 posed to imitate. The next morning, a priA^ate of his old guard saAv him col- 

 lecting violets, and said to him, " Sire, they will be more plentiful here next 

 year." To Avhich Napoleon replied, " Do you think I shall be here next year 1 " 

 The soldier said, "Your Majesty Avill permit the storm to pass." Napoleon 

 asked, " Do your comrades think so ? " " Nearly aU, Sire," was the answer. 

 Napoleon said, " Let them think, but not say so." The soldier repeated the 

 conversation to his felloAvs, and it Avas then agreed to speak of him ahvays as 

 Father Violet. After this, men throughout France began to talk of the violets 

 of the coming spring, and of a certain Corporal Violet, who would perhaps come 

 in the spring. Ladies Avho longed for his coming Avore violets in their bonnets. 

 In fact, treason lurked everyAvhere beneath a bunch of violets, and tiny pictures 

 of the Emperor Avere concealed among the leaves and flowers in every button- 

 hole bouquet, and bunches of tlie flower Avere painted so as to reveal his 

 profile. 



Use. — The medicinal qualities of this plant are said to be curatiA-e in lung 

 complaints, rheumatism, and catarrh. Most of the violets contain an emetic 

 principle, called violine, especially in their roots. The flowers are laxative 

 and the sirup of violets is used as a laxative for infants. The sirup is also 

 used occasionally as a test for acids and alkalies. The roots of some species 

 produce false ipecacuanha. The floAver is used by dyers to produce the color 

 knoAvn as the Azure of Athens, and the delicate odor of the SAA-eet violet is a 

 most popular perfume. The florist finds it among the floAvers that are largely- 

 sought after for ornamental purposes. 



