11 VIOLACE^ 99 



seed to its base gives way, and it is ejected several 

 feet, this being, no doubt, much facilitated by its form 

 and smoothness. I have known even a gathered speci- 

 men throw a seed nearly ten feet. Fig. 60 represents a 

 capsule after the seeds have been ejected. The pollen 

 is dry, smooth, white, and 44 /a long by 25 broad. The 

 hive bee is the most frequent visitor, but the flower 

 attracts several other species of bee, a few flies (Bom- 

 bylius), and butterflies. 



V. hirta. — The coloured flowers agree generally with 

 those of V. odorata, but have no scent. They are said 

 to be generally infertile. The cleistogamous flowers, on 

 the contrary, are very diff'erent (Fig. 62). They are 

 swollen, fleshy, pinkish, and nestle close to the ground. 

 It has been said, as for instance by Vaucher, that the 

 plants actually force these capsules into the ground, 

 and thus sow their own seeds. I have not, however, 

 found this to be the case, though, as the stalk elongates 

 and the point of the capsule turns downwards, if the 

 earth be loose and uneven, it will no doubt sometimes 

 so happen. When the seeds are fully ripe, the capsule 

 opens by three valves and allows them to escape. The 

 leaves of plants growing in shady woods tend to be 

 large, and in V. hirta there is a shade-loving variety 

 with enlarged leaves, V. hirta var. macrophylla. 



Now we naturally ask ourselves what is the reason 

 for this difi'erence between the species of violets ; why 

 do V. odorata and V. hirta conceal their capsules 

 among the moss and leaves on the ground, while V. 

 canina and others raise theirs boldly above their heads, 

 and throw the seeds to seek their fortune in the world ? 

 If this arrangement be best for V. canina, why has 

 not V. odorata also adopted it ? The reason is, 1 

 believe, to be found in the difi'erent mode of growth 

 of these two species. V. canina is a plant with 

 an elongated stem, and it is easy, therefore, for the 

 capsule to raise itself above the grass and other low 

 herbage among which violets grow. V. odorata and 

 V. hirta, on the contrary, have, in ordinary parlance, 



