The Violet. 167 



T~ woods in New England, is well worth the attention of 

 , cU itivator, as we are assured that with proper management 

 . v be rendered a very ornamental plant. Indeed, there 

 se veral other native species which would well repay the 

 re of cultivation, and would doubtless receive attention, if, 

 ' stead of being native productions, they were only brought 

 from India or New Holland. 



VIOLA— THE VIOLET. 



Natural Order, Violacese. Linnsean System, Pentandria, Monogynia. Gen- 

 eric Distinctions : — sepals five, unequal, auricular at the base ; petals five, 

 irregular, the upper one spurred at the base ; anthers connate, the lobes di- 

 verging; capsule oue celled, three valved. 



V. cucullata. — Very smooth; leaves cordate, cucullate at the base, acute, 

 crenate ; peduncles longer than the petioles ; stipules linear ; inferior and 

 lateral petals, bearded. — Plate 26. Fig. 2. 



The origin of the word viola, given by the Latins to this ge- 

 nus, is not satisfactorily explained The Greeks called it ion, 

 which is supposed to be derived from Io, a mistress of Jupiter, 

 who was transformed into a cow, for whose food the Violet 

 was fabled to have been created ; and it is conjectured that 

 the Romans, adopting the Greek story, made viola from vitula, 

 a young cow. Whatever may be the derivation of its name, 

 no plants have been more celebrated in song and story, than 

 those of this beautiful genus. 



Violets dim. 

 But sweeter than the lids of Juno's eyes, 

 Or Cytheraa's breath, — 



have always been the poet's flowers, and truly their delicacy, 

 beauly, and perfume, render them worthy of all that has been 

 written and sung in their praise. The Sweet Violet, V. odor- 

 ata, and the Pansy or Heartsease, V. tricolor, with their numer- 

 ous varieties, have a place in every flower garden, from the 

 conservatory of the prince, to the little patch of the peasant. 

 The Sweet Violet, which is doubtless the species described by 



