THE ARROW-LEAVED VIOLET. 



and it is very rare that one finds a seed vessel produced from 

 these blue blossoms. The reason for this sterility is not exactly 

 known. But if you will carefully observe the Arrow-leaved 

 Violet along into the summer, you will find that it produces 

 flowers without these beautiful blue petals, flowers which, per- 

 haps, it will be difficult to discover, for they will consist only 

 of stamens and pistils enclosed and hid away out of sight in 

 the green envelope which the botanist calls the calyx. This 

 flower is very fertile and always self-fertilized. Plants which 

 have these " secret marriages " are called cleistogamous. 



By one of those curious and ingenious contrivances for which 

 Nature is so much celebrated, ample provision is made for the 

 wide distribution of the seeds produced from these hidden flowers. 

 When the seed-holder is ripe, the sides contract and press inward 

 upon the smooth inclosed seeds in such a way as to snap them 

 out to a considerable distance, as a bean may be snapped from 

 between the thumb and finger by a smart pressure. 



The sudden projection of the seeds in this way has given 

 rise to the belief among the people in some parts of England 

 that the Violet breeds fleas, — they mistaking these darting seeds 

 for the quick spring of that sprightly and enterprising insect. 



But we must take leave of our modest little life-long friend 

 somehow ; and how better than in the words of one of the 

 sweetest of Mrs. Whitney's always charming poems? 



A VIOLET. 



God does not send us strange flowers every j'ear. 

 When the spring winds blow o'er the pleasant places, 

 The same dear things lift up the same fair faces. 

 The violet is here. 



