242 XIX. YlOLAEIBiE. 



thylacium, Melicytus, Hymenanthera) . Seeds ovoid or subglobose; testa crustaceous 

 or membranous, raphe sometimes thickened and separating when ripe; albumen 

 fleshy, copious. Embeto axile, straight ; cotyledons flat, broad or narrow ; radicle 

 eylindric, near the hilum. 



Tkibe I. VIOLEJE. 

 Corolla irregular, lower petal dissimilar. Fruit a capsule. 



PEINCIPAL GENERA. 

 * Viola. lonidiiira. Agation. 



Tbibe II. PAYPAYEOLEM. 

 Petals subequal, claws contiguous, and sub-coherent in a tube. Fruit a 



capsule. 



PEINCIPAL GENERA, 



Isodendiion. Paypayrola, Amphirrhox. 



Teibe III. ALSODINEyE. 

 Petals equal or subequal, very shortly clawed. Fruit a berry or capsule, 



PRINCIPAL GENERA, 

 Alsodeia, Leonia. Hymenanthera. Melicytus, 



Sauoagesiece, of whicli we have given a figure near Violariea, are so closely allied to them that several 

 botanists have united them. They are distinguished only by the presence of five- co staminodes placed 

 outside the stamens, and by the three valves of the capsule being seminiferous on their edges. Violariece 

 also approach Droseraceee in isostemony, the one-eelled ovary with parietal placeutation, the capsule with 

 placentlferous valves, and the albuminous seed ; but in Droseraceee the anthers are extrorse, the styles are 

 distinct, the embryo is minute and basilar. They have the same affinities with Frankmiacete, which have 

 also a simple style and an axile embryo, but their calyx is tubular and elongate, their anthers are extrorse, 

 their ovules ascending, their leaves usually opposite and exstipulate. They are also connected with 

 Oisti7iecB (which see). 



The herbaceous species of the tribe Violets principally inhabit the northern hemisphere; they are rare 

 in the temperate regions of the southern hemisphere and in the tropics ; the woody species of this tribe 

 are chiefly natives of ec[uatorial America. The other tribes inhabit the intertropical region of both worlds, 

 and especially of America. Hymcnantlmra inhabits Australia and New Zealand. 



The active principle of Viohce (violine) is a substance analogous in properties to emefine (see CeplveBlis), 

 the emetic and laxative properties of which it shares. Violine is principally found in the root and 

 rootstock, from which, as well as from the leaves, has also been extracted a peculiar acid ; and the scented 

 petals contain a volatile oil. The root of the European violets, and especially of the Sweet Violet {Viola 

 odoratd),\s slightly bitter and acrid, recalling the taste oi- Ipecacuanha; the flowers, which are sweet- 

 scented butnauseous in taste, are used in syrup and infused as emoUients'and cough-mixtures. The stem and 

 leates of the Wild Pansy (V. tricolor) are frequently administered as a depurative tisane in cutaneous 

 disorders. The American Violets ( V. pedata and palmata) are similarly employed. V. ovata is a reputed 

 specific against rattlesnake bites. Some species of lonidiimi, in South America, are used as substitutes for 

 Ipecacuanha; the root of I. Ipecacuanha especially, the White Ipecacuanha of commerce, is a powerful 

 emetic, peculiarly suited to lymphatic temperaments. The root of Anchietea salutaris, a small Brazilian 

 tree, is purgative, and useful, like our wild Pansy, in skin affections. lonidium microphyllum, a species 



