42 
void of scent, there is a foreign variety which has 
been described as fragrant, whilst, on the other band, 
we freqnently find specimens of tbe Sweet Violet whicb 
are scentless. The leaves of the latter are furnished 
with long pétioles, and a cordate, crenate limb, almost 
smooth ; at the base of the petiole is a pair of lanceo- 
late, toothed stipules. A pair of scale-like bracts is 
usually placed a little above the middle of the flower- 
stalk, which bears a single purple, white, or sometimes 
lilac flower. By the curvation of the summit of the 
flower-stalk the flower is inverted. The calyx consists 
of five obtuse sepals, each of which is extended back- 
wards below the point of its attachment. The corolla 
has five unequal petals, the largest of which is natu- 
rally the lowest, but, by the inversion of the flower, 
occupies the uppermost position ; it is furnished with 
a spur at the base ; the two latéral ones hâve a hairy 
line on the inside, though this is wanting in one rare 
variety. There are five stamens, with very short fila¬ 
ments, and having the anthers united together, at least 
in the early state of the flower ; and two of them are 
furnished with green fleshy spurs, which penetrate 
within the spur of the petal. The pistil has a one- 
celled ovarium with three rows of ovules, longitudinally 
