114 
VIOLET. 
“ Nature lias guarded the neetary of this 
plant in a manner that must excite our 
warmest admiration, and which at the same 
time must strengthen the opinion that this 
saccharine juice is vitally important to the 
parts of fructification. The two side petals 
are furnished with a kind of beard, which 
keeps out the smallest insect; at the same 
time it admits air, which appears to be neces¬ 
sary in the formation of the nectar or honey. 
The entrance of the spur is grooved on the 
under side, but this channel is occupied by 
the stigma, which bends its hook into the 
groove, as if to partake of the effluvia of the 
nectar. 
“ The stigma of the Sweet Violet, when 
attached to the seed-vessel, is not unlike the 
Ostrich in shape, but when the corolla and 
calyx are carefully removed, leaving only the 
parts of fructification attached to the recepta¬ 
cle, a most beautiful miniature bird is repre¬ 
sented ; the stigma forms the head and beak, 
the anthers make a golden breast, whilst then- 
tongues appear like a pair of green wings. 
The Violet is celebrated by the poets as 
the emblem of modesty, innocence, and faith¬ 
fulness, and is scarcely less a favourite with 
them than the Rose. Mr. Barry Cornwall 
even claims for it the palm of precedence, 
contending that modesty is more desirable 
than beauty ; but notwithstanding its retiring 
simplicity and elegance, we hardly expect 
that the florists will consent to crown it the 
Queen of Flowers. In Paris, notwithstanding 
