VI0LACE7E. 77 



P. sanguinea. L. Much like the preceding, but its flow- 

 ers are dark-red, and stem slightly fastigiate, branched ; July, in 

 dry soils ; said to have the same properties as P. senega ; is a 

 smaller plant. 



P. cruciata. N. Has greenish-purple flowers. 



P. polygama. Walt. Has sessile purple flowers ; medicinal. 

 Bigelow's " Medical Botany." 



P. paucifolia. W. Flowering Winter-green. Stem 3-4 

 inches high, leafy ; flowers large, purple, crested on the keel 

 beautifully ; leaves ovate, acute, smooth ; blossoms in May and 

 June, in woods. This is a small but beautiful plant, with large 

 flowers. 



ORDER 130. VIOLACEJE. The Violet Tribe. 



Calyx of 5 persistent sepals, as many petals equal or unequal, 

 inferior ; 5 stamens rising from below the ovary, which is 

 1-celled and usually many-seeded ; leaves simple, usually alter- 

 nate ; some plants of the order are herbaceous. Only one genus 

 is found in this State. 



Viola. L. 5. 1. Violet. 



Of the proper violet, there are about 50 species, nearly equally 

 divided between North America and Europe. The South Ameri- 

 can species are considerably different, and more shrubby. Of 

 the 20 species enumerated as belonging to this country, by Mr. 

 Nuttall, 18 are found in this Commonwealth. They are dis- 

 tinguished as violets which have stems, and violets which are 

 stemless ; usually beautiful plants, or having beautiful, peculiar 

 flowers. They have little use, but are ornamental. The roots 

 of most violets are said to be emetic. Lindley. Of this genus, 

 the anthers are connivent and cohering, so as to resemble united 

 filaments, but in the maturity of the anthers, they easily separate 

 into the 5. Many of the species bear flowers without any petals, 

 in midsummer, as remarked by Nuttall. 



