VIOLET FAMILY 



SWEET VIOLET. ENGLISH VIOLET 



Viola odorata. 



The parent of the florist's violets; widely distributed over Europe, 

 Africa, and Asia. 



iJoo/itoc*.'— Short, producing stolons. 

 Stems. — Tufted, somewhat pubescent. 



Leaves.— R.2iA\c&\, cordate-ovate to reniform, obtusely serrate; stip- 

 ules glandular. 

 Flowers. — Blue running into white and reddish-purple, fragrant. 

 Sepals. — Five, eared. 

 Petals. — Five, unequal; spur nearly straight and obtuse. 



Stamens. — Five. 



Violets dim, 



But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes 



Or Cytherea's breath. 



— "Winter's Tale," Act IV, Sc. 3, Shakespeare. 



The primitive of the Svs^eet Violet of commerce is a variable 

 species indigenous to three continents, Europe, Asia, and Africa. 



The delicious fragrance of the flower has caused the plant to be 

 cultivated and developed until many sorts bearing both single 

 and double flowers have been derived. But English poets speak- 

 ing of the Violet mean the simple, single, blue, wild form. 



HORNED VIOLET. BEDDING VIOLET. 



Vwla cornuta var. hybrida. 



A tufted perennial plant.with diffuse stems whose hybrid forms are 

 the Bedding Violet of the florists. Pjnrenees. Entire summer. 



Stems. — Tufted, diffuse, ascending. 



Leaves. — Cordate-ovate, acuminate, obtusely serrate. 



Stipules. — Large and deeply cut. 



Flowers. — In type, lilac-blue; hybrids pansy-colored. 



Spur. — Half the length of petals, pointed. 



Sepals. — Awl-shaped. 



Petals. — Five, unequal. 



Stamens. — Five. 



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