What is "dogtooth violet"

Violet \Vi"o*let\, n. [F. violette a violet (cf. violet violet-colored), dim. of OF. viole a violet, L. viola; akin to Gr. ?. Cf. Iodine.]

1. (Bot.) Any plant or flower of the genus Viola, of many species. The violets are generally low, herbaceous plants, and the flowers of many of the species are blue, while others are white or yellow, or of several colors, as the pansy ( Viola tricolor).

   Note: The cultivated sweet violet is Viola odorata of Europe. The common blue violet of the eastern United States is Viola cucullata; the sand, or bird-foot, violet is Viola pedata.

2. The color of a violet, or that part of the spectrum farthest from red. It is the most refrangible part of the spectrum.

3. In art, a color produced by a combination of red and blue in equal proportions; a bluish purple color.
   --Mollett.

4. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small violet-colored butterflies belonging to Lyc[ae]na, or Rusticus, and allied genera.

   Corn violet. See under Corn.

   Dame's violet. (Bot.) See Damewort.

   Dogtooth violet. (Bot.) See under Dogtooth.

   Water violet (Bot.), an aquatic European herb ( Hottonia palustris) with pale purplish flowers and pinnatifid leaves.

Dogtooth \Dog"tooth`\, n.; pl. Dogteeth.

1. See Canine tooth, under Canine.

2. (Arch.) An ornament common in Gothic architecture, consisting of pointed projections resembling teeth; -- also called tooth ornament.

   Dogtooth spar (Min.), a variety of calcite, in acute crystals, resembling the tooth of a dog. See Calcite.

   Dogtooth violet (Bot.), a small, bulbous herb of the Lily family (genus Erythronium). It has two shining flat leaves and commonly one large flower. [Written also dog's-tooth violet.]

n. perennial woodland spring-flowering plant; widely cultivated [syn: dogtooth, dog's-tooth violet]