Diana Mayesky, age 11, of Champaign, I11, for her question:

ARE THERE MANY KINDS OF VIOLETS?

Violet is the common name of a group of flowering plants. Their blossoms are among the most attractive of all flowers. There are more than 300 species of violets in the world and about 100 of these grow in the United States.

Violets bloom in the spring. They have heart shaped leaves that often conceal the five petaled flowers. Each flower grows on a slender stalk.

Some varieties have flowers that are white or yellow. But violets with blue and purple flowers seem to be the favorites throughout the world. Most have pleasant fragrances.

Purple violets include the common meadow, or hooded violet and, the bird's foot violet. These bloom twice a year: in spring and summer. The bird's foot violet received its name because its leaves are shaped like a bird's feet.

The dog violet is so called by the English because it lacks fragrance. The word dog is a term of contempt.

The pansy is a cultivated kind of violet.