September 23, 1886. ] 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
277 
singular admixture of imbricated and stand-on-end petals, and there is an 
equally suggestive co-mingling of broad with narrow, and of short with 
long petals, it being manifest that the highest forms are the result of a 
long course of cultivation and selection. Our sweet Violet has not 
advanced so far as the Russian, simply because it has not been operated 
with to any great extent in the sunny and genial climate of the Adriatic 
coasts, but we get so far as it has been subjected to advancing influences 
greatly improved forms, of which none afford a better example than 
Queen of Violets. So far as my observations tend, the Russian Violet is 
only another form of Viola odorata, due probably to long cultivation in 
the alluvial soil of Ukraine, the same Violet, in fact, as prevails in the 
Crimea, the Neapolitan having had a similar origin through subjectiou to 
the influences of the Apennines on the one hand, and the Adriatic on the 
other. The difference between Viola odorata and V. suavis is not great. 
Neapolitan Violets are generally accepted as the progeny of a separate 
species—viz., V. italics. It may be so, and if it is, which is the species? 
The single Neapolitan ? I think not. The f >liage is certainly somewhat 
different, the leaf is longer in proportion to its width, more pointed, and 
the lobes are of different length, the longest overlapping the petiole. The 
flowers are paler in the species ; lavender, white eye, a pale variety of 
V. suavis, intermediate between an albino form of Russian and the 
species, a form in fact of V. suavis, due to long subjection to cultivation 
in a more favoured climate. The less hardiness of Neapolitan to Russian 
Violet is not a fatal objection, as varieties resulting from high cultivation 
are more tender than the species, and this is enhanced in favour of our * 
proposition when the varieties are originated from varieties of a higher 
order than the species in a much milder climate than the species obtains 
in its native habitats. 
Fig. 41.— Spathoglottis acgustoruh. 
In V. odorata the foliage is heart-shaped, blunt-pointed, and with the 
lower part or lobes closed or overlapping at the midrib ; petioles long and 
comparatively weak, which becomes more marked in the cultivated than 
wild state, hairy, having a rough appearance, the petioles not infrequently 
becoming twisted, knotted, or warted. The flower stems are weaker and 
longer than in Viola suavis, the petals are narrower, and the spurs more 
prominent, the flower being more pendant. Russian has larger, more 
pointed leaves, glaucous or shining green leaves, much less hairy, and the 
lobes open or not nearly so close as in V. odorata; petioles strater, more 
angled, and as shoit or shorter ; flowers more erect, larger, and broader 
petals, footstalks stouter but not longer. In fragrance there is no appre¬ 
ciable difference. In some places Violets are found not distinguishable 
from Russian, and the Scotch is identical, but whether they are escapades 
from cultivation, or improved forms of Viola odorata, is matter of specu¬ 
lation. The Russian Violet never forms knots or warts on the petioles, 
and this characteristic pervades the varieties equally with the species. 
The varieties of Violets may be thus classed : — 
Viola odorata, blue. Spring. Britain. 
Viola odorata alba,, white. Spring. 
Viola odorata var. grey or white and reddish purple. Spring. 
Viola odorata rubra, pink. Spring. 
Double varieties: — 
Viola odorata plena, bluish purple. Spring. Syn., Double Scotch. 
Viola odorata alba plena, white. Spring. Syn., Compacta. 
Viola odorata rubra plena, pink. Spring ; winter and spring in 
frames. Syn., Double Rose. 
Viola odorata var. russicus or Crimean, slightly larger in all its parts 
than the species, flowers bluish purple. Winter and spring. 
Viola odorata var. Patrie, probably the double form of Crimean. 
Double, purple-violet, streaked red. September to April. 
Viola odorata var. grseca or Grecian, bluish-purple, a small form of the 
species. Spring. 
