viola (2)

[Lat.=a violet.] Bot .: Violet; the typical genus of Violem (q.v.). Low herbs, more rarely shrubs, with radical or alternate leaves or flowers; on one, rarely on two flowered peduncles; calyx of five sepals, extended at the base; petals five, unequal, the under one spurred at the base; anthers connate, two of them spurred behind; capsule of three elastic valves; seeds ovoid or globose. Known species a hundred, from temperate countries. Five of the most familiar are native in temperate Europe and America: Viola palustris , the Marsh; V. odorata , the Sweet; V. hirta , the Hairy; V. can in a , Gerard's or the Dog Violet; and V. tricolor , the Pansy Violet, Pansy, or Heart's-ease. The first has a subterranean creeping rootstock, glabrous stems, reniform cordate leaves, and white or lilac scentle flowers. The second has broadly cordate leaves, and fragrant blue, white, or reddish purple flowers; found in woods, pastures, or on banks. The third, with faintly land and Scotland, and parts of North America. The fourth, with broadly cordate leaves. ciliate dentate stipules, and blue, lilac, gray, or white flowers, is common in woods, dry pastures, clefts of rocks, and banks; and the fifth, having flowers variegated, purple, white, and yellow, is frequent on banks and in fields. The bruised leaves of V. tri color smell like peach kernels; they were once believed to be efficacious in the cure of skin dis eases. The petals of V. odorata are used as a lax a tive for children. The seeds have similar qualities, and the root is emetic and purgative. V. ovata is a reputed antidote to the poison of the rattlesnake. V. serpens , a small, procumbent, Him a lay an herb, yields an oil. The flowers are considered diaphoretic and laxative, the seeds diuretic and emetic. viola-emetin, s. [VIOLIN (2).] vi-ô-la-ble, a. [Lat. violabilis, from violo = to violate (q. v.).] Capable of being violated, broken, or injured. vi-o-la-çě-æ, s. pl. [Mod. Latin viol ( a ); Latin fem. pl. adj. suff.- aceœ.] Bot.: Violet worts; an order of Hypogynous Exogens, the typical one of the alliance Violales. Herbs or shrubs, with simple, usually alternate leaves, involute in vernation. Sepals five, persistent, generally elongated at the base; æstivation imbricated; petals five, estivation convolute; stamens five, inserted on a hypogynous disk; filaments dilated, lengthened beyond the anthers, two, when the flowers are irregular, often with an appendage or gland at the base; style single, usually declinate; stigma oblique, hooded; ovary one-celled, with three parietal placente, rarely one-seeded; capsule three-valved, having the placente in their axis. Roots often emetic. Found in most continents, but the typical species are from the North Temperate Zone. Tribes or sub-orders two: Violese and Alsodeæ. Known genera eleven, species 300 ( Lindley ); genera twenty-one, species 240 ( Sir J. Hooker ). vi-o-lā-ceo us (ce as sh), a . [Lat. violaceus , from viola =a violet.] Resembling a violet in color. vi-o-lal, a . [VIOLALES.] Bot.: Resembling the genus viola, or the order Violaceæ, as the Violal alliance.