VIOLA, in botany: A genus of plants of the class syngensia, order monogamia; in the natural system arranged under the 29th order, Campanaceæ. The calyx is pentaphyllous; the corolla five petalled, irregular, with a nectarium behind, horn-shaped; the capsule is above the germin, three valved, monococular. There are 28 species; six of which are natives of Britain. The most important of these are, 1. The pauciflora, marsh violet. The leaves are smooth, reniform, two or three on each footstalk; flowers pale blue, small, inodorous. An infusion of the flowers is an excellent test of the presence of acids and alkalis. 2. The odorata, purple sweet violet, has leaves heart-shaped, notched; flowers deep purple, single; creeping scions. The flowers of this plant taken in the quantity of a dram or two are said to be gently purgative or laxative, and, according to Bergius and some others, they possess an anodyne and pectoral quality. 3. Tricolor, pansies, heart's ease, or three faces under a hood. The stems are diffuse, procumbent, triangular; the leaves oblong, cut at the edges; stipules dentated: the flowers purple, yellow, and light blue; inodorous.
This elegant little plant merits culture in every garden, for the beauty and great variety of its three-coloured flowers; and it will succeed anywhere in the open borders, or other compartments, disposed in patches towards the front; either by sowing the seed at once to remain, or by putting in young plants previously raised in a seed-bed: they will begin flowering early in summer, and will continue shooting and flowering in succession till winter; and even during part of that season in mild weather.
The common violet is propagated by parting the roots, sometimes by seed.