76 VIOLET FAMILY. 



with 3 walled placentas, (parietal) bearing several seeds. Style 

 1, Capsule one-celled, 3 valved, bearing the seeds along the 

 middle of each valve, (PI. II. 7 p.) Embryo straight about as 

 long as the copious, fleshy albumen. Herbs or shrubs, with 

 stipuled leaves, and powerful emetic roots.] 



8. VIOLET OR PANSY. (Viola.) 



Calyx of 5 sepals, extended at the base, Petals 5, unequal, 

 the under one spurred behind. Name of Celtic origin, in 

 modern Gaelic, ' fail,' signifies ' a smell,' and failchuach, ' a 

 violet.' 



SWEET VIOLET. Viola odorata. 



Leaves heart-shaped, scolloped, and as well as their stalks, 

 downy, or nearly smooth. Sepals pointed. The side petals 

 usually, with a hairy line, Anther-spurs, lance-shaped, blunt, 

 and curving downwards, (decurved.) Stigma, hooked (unci- 

 nate) convex above. Scions creeping, leaves and flowers 

 grow from the crown of the root. Bracts, usually above the 

 middle of the peduncle. Hairs on the leaf-stalks, short and 

 turning down, rarely long and spreading.] 



As in the hairy Violet, which may be distinguished 

 from the sweet Violet, by every part (but the petals) 

 being rough with hairs : and having no scions. The 

 hue of Violets is sometimes lilac, or plum-colored, and 

 oftener white, which some authors are of opinion, may 

 be owing to the soil being chalky. The following re- 



