Flora Medica

VIOLACE^;.Nat. syst. ed. 2. p. 63.VIOLA.Sepals 5, unequal, prolonged into appendages at the base.Corolla unequal, 2-lipped, of 5 petals, the lower calcarate. Stamens5, hypogynous, syngenesious, unequal; the 2 anteriorhaving anthers that are often calcarate. Capsule bursting withelasticity, many-seeded, 3-valved. Herbaceous plants.203. V. odorata Linn, sp. pi 1324. Eng. Bot. t. 619. DC.prodr. i. 296. S. and C. i. t. 29. Common in groves andshady places all over the North of Europe and Asia, as far asJapan.Runners flagelliform. Leaves roundish cordate. Sepals ovateobtuse. Petals blue, or white, sweet scented; spur very blunt. Stigmahooked, naked. Capsules turgid, hairy. Seeds turbinate, pallid.Petals used as a laxative for children, one drachm of which operatespretty freely the seeds; possess similar properties ;the root is emeticand purgative. The aqueous tincture of the flowers is a useful chemicaltest : uncombined acids changing the blue to red and alkalis togreen. The Romans had a wine made of violet flowers, and it is saidthey are still used in the preparations of the Grand Signior's sherbet.By some the flowers are considered anodyne ; they certainly producefaintness and giddiness in some constitutions as I have witnessed. Trillermentions a case in which they produced apoplexy. Pereira.204. V. canina Linn, sp.pl. 1324. Eng. Bot. t. 620. DC.prodr. i. 298. Woods, thickets and hedges all over Europe,Japan, Persia, west coast of America and in the Canaries.Stem ascending, branched, smooth. Leaves cordate. Stipules acuminate,pectinate, finely lacerated. Peduncles smooth. Sepals subulate.Stigma papillose, somewhat reflexed. Capsule lengthened, with acuminatevalves ;seeds pyriform, brown. Considered a depurative, andrecommended for the removal of cutaneous affections. Root emetic.205. V. tricolor Linn, sp.pl. 1326. Fl. dan. t. 623. Eng.Bot. t. 1287. DC. prodr.i. 303. Fields all over Europe.Northern Asia and North America. (Heartsease or Pansy.)Root somewhat fusiform. Stems branched, diffuse. Lower leavesovate-cordate; stipules runcinate, pinnatifid, with the middle lobecrenated. Petals on short stalks ; spur thick, obtuse, not projecting.Seeds oblong ovate. When bruised the leaves smell like peachkernels, hence they have been supposed to contain prussic acid. Theywere once esteemed efficacious in the cure of cutaneous disorders, andare stillemployed in Italy in tinea capitis.97 H