( 4 .) 
V I' O L A * * 
Linnean Class and Order. Penta'ndria, Monogy'nia. 
Natural Order. Viola'cete, Juss.- — Lindl. Syn. p. 35 ; Intro- 
duction to Nat. Syst. p. 146. — Violarie'^e. De Candolle. — Rich, 
by Macgilliv. p. 505. 
Gen. Char. Calyx inferior, of 5 permanent, oblong, upright, 
pointed, equal sepals (leaves), which are elongated at the base. 
Corolla irregular, of 5 unequal petals, the uppermost broadest, 
slightly cleft, and turned downwards, terminating at the base in a 
horn-shaped, blunt nectary, projecting between the sepals; two 
lateral .petals opposite, equal, blunt, straight ; two lowermost equal, 
larger, and turned upwards (the position of the flower being re- 
versed). Filaments very small, the two adjoining the uppermost 
petal have 2 combined spurs, (fig. 1.) which enter the nectary. 
Anthers broad, converging (approaching each other) , scarcely con- 
nected, blunt, each terminating in a membranous point. Germen 
superior, roundish. Style thread-shaped, extending beyond the 
anthers. Stigma oblique. Capsule (fig. 2.) egg-shaped, three- 
edged, blunt, with 1 cell and 3 rigid, finally reflexed valves, (fig. 3). 
Seeds many, egg-shaped, polished, attached to the linear central 
receptacle ( placenta ) of each valve. 
The 5-leaved calyx, irregular, spurred corolla, and 1-celled cap- 
sule of 3 valves, will distinguish this from all other genera with an 
inferior polypetalous corolla, in the same class and order. 
Eight species British ; all of which have their flowers reversed, 
or inverted. 
VI'OLA CANI'NA. Dog’s Violet. 
Spec. Char. Stem, as it attains full growth, ascending, chan- 
nelled. Leaves heart-shaped, somewhat pointed. Stipulas ser- 
rated. Bracteas awl-shaped, entire. Calyx acute. 
Engl. Bot. t. 620. — Curt. FI. Lond. t. 108.— Huds. FI. Angl. p. 379. — Sm. 
FI. Brit. v. i. p. 246. Eng. FI. v. i. p. 303. — With. (7th ed.) v. ii. p. 328. — 
Lindl. Syn. p. 35. — Hook. Brit. FI. p. 106. — Gray’s Nat. Arr. v. ii. p. 669. — 
Lightf. FI. Scot. v. i. p. 508. — Sibth. FI. Oxon. p. 83. — Abbot’s FI. Bedf. p. 
190. — Purt. Midi. FI. v. ii. p. 418. — Relh. FI. Cant. (3rd ed.; p. 93. — Hook. 
FI. Scot. p. 77. — Grev. FI. Edin. p. 52. — Walk. FI. of Oxf. p. 60. — Mackay’s 
Catal. of thePlants found in Ireland, p.23. — Viola Martin inodora sylvestris, 
Ray’s Syn. p. 364. — Viola canina sylvestris, Johnson’s Gerarde, p. 851. 
Localities. — I n woods, thickets, hedge-banks, and heathy ground. — Very 
common. 
Perennial. — Flowers in April and May. 
Root somewhat woody. Stem at first none, or very short ; after- 
wards rising to the height of from 6 to 8, or 10 inches ; it is some- 
Fig. 1. The five converging Anthers and two Spurs. — Fig. 2. The Calyx, un- 
ripe Capsule, and Style. — Fig. 3. Ripe Capsule, showing the three Valves, and 
the Seeds. 
* “ According to some, from Ion, (being the food of the metamorphosed Io,) 
the Greek appellation. — ‘ A vi olendi,' (f rom the power of its scent,) accord- 
ing to others. — And again, ‘quod juxta vias nasci amat ;’ because it loves, 
to grow by way-sides, where it introduces itself to the notice of passengers.” 
Dr. Hooker. 
