ri]r VIOLA, [class V. ORDER I. 



footstalk, Laving a pair of simple lanceolate or awl-shaped bractea 

 about the middle, segments of the cali/x obtuse, slightly extended 

 behind the insevlion. Corolla a fine blue, white at the base, and the 

 lower and two lateral petals penciled with dark purple veins, some- 

 times white, with purple veins, as well as the spur; of a rich fragrance, 

 the lower petal largest, with a dark obtuse spur at the base, and 

 notched at the apex, the lateral petals sometimes notched, and having 

 at their base a few short white hairs, either in a line or a tuft, the two 

 upper smallest, entire, ovate, oblong. Stamens nearly sessile, of two 

 longtitudinal cells, bursting half way down from the apex, and ex- 

 tending beyond them is a thin membranous lanceolate appendage, 

 tipped with orange, and extending to the end of the style, the two 

 lower ones having at their base a broad curved green appendage 

 extending into the spur. Style as long as the stamens, recurved at the 

 top and pointed, tipped with the stigma. Capsule ovate oblong, tri- 

 angular, of three valves, smooth, bursting elasticly, and containing 

 numerous pale seeds, its footstalk elongating after flowering, and lying 

 prostrate on the ground when ripe. 



Habitat. — Woods, banks, pastures, and shady lanes; frequent in 

 England; rare in Scotland; banks near Slateford Aqueduct, and 

 Colmton Woods, near Edinburgh ; not unfrequent in Ireland. 



Perennial ; flowering in March and April. 



The Violet is a well known garden plant, producing its rich dark 

 pui-ple fragi'ant flowers early in the Spring. 



" Ye Violets that first appear, 



By your pure purple mantles known, 

 Like the proud virgins of the year. 

 As if the Spring viere all your own ; 

 What are ye when the Rose is blown ?" — 



Sir H. Wotton . 



Many beautiful varieties are produced as the white and light blue, 

 and these by cultivation become very double, but we think the deep 

 blue by far the most beautiful ; for, as Byron says, 



" The sweetness of the Violet's deep blue eyes, 



Kiss'd by the breath of heaven, seems colour'd by its skies." 



The petals have a somewhat laxative property and bitterish taste, 

 and enter into the formation of a syrup, which, in combination with 

 oil of almonds, is considered useful in relieving coughs in young 

 children ; and the syrup is also used as a delicate test in chemical 

 investigations, to detect the presence of alkalies or acids : by the 

 former it is changed into green, and by the latter red. The petals of 

 this, and sometimes of other species, are occasionally found wanting, 

 but the capsules and seeds arc perfected. 



