INTRODUCTION TO BRITISH BOTaNY w 



directly from the roots. Tlie Dog-Violel is therefore a distinct 

 species, Viola eanina. Tire Marsh-Violet and Pansy differ also in 

 important characters ; they are, therefore,, also considered distinct 

 species, the fact being indicated by the addition of the specific or 

 trivial names, paliistris and tricolor, to the generic name Viola. The 

 flowers of the scented Violet are sometimes white and sometimes 

 blue ; garden specimens are often tinged with pink, and still more 

 frequently, double. These characters being either unimportant or 

 inconstant — for blue flowers generally have a great tendency to 

 sport to white, and double flowers are not perpetuated by seed — 

 the blue, white, pink, and double sweet Violets are not considered 

 distinct species, but mere varieties. Now there are many plants 

 which bear a close resemblance to a Violet in the structure of their 

 flowers and seeds, but yet differ so far that they cannot be reduced 

 under the same genus ; they are therefore placed with it in the 

 same Tribe, called Violace.e, all the genera in which, differ in essen- 

 tial points from the genera wliich compose other Trilies, but agree 

 with a vast number m having two-lohed see,ds and leaves with netted 

 veins, two of the characters of Dicotylhuonous Plants. In this 

 Class it is arranged with plants furnished with both calyx and 

 corolla, and having their petals distinct and inserted with the 

 stamens into the receptacle. 



The plant of which we have been speaking belongs, then, to the 



Class L DICOTYLEDONS. 



Sub-Class I. Thalajiiflor.e. 



Order or Tribe IX. Violace/E. 



Genus i, Viola. 



Species 2, odorata. 



Variety, blue, ivhite, or double. 



