Violaceae:
a fragrant perennial herb to 15cm. found growing in hedgerows and woods, mostly
on calcareous soils. The flowers come in violet or white, blooming from
February-May. The leaves are large and heart-shaped. Widespread and locally
common in England and Wales. Europe, from Norway south and east to North
Africa, Western Asia and Syria.
USES:
The young
leaves and flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked. The leaves are usually
available all through the winter. The leaves have a very mild flavour, though
they soon become quite tough as they grow older. They make a very good salad,
their mild flavour enabling them to be used in bulk whilst other
stronger-tasting leaves can then be added to give more flavour. When added to
soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra. Also used as a flavouring in
puddings. A tea can be made from the leaves. The flowers can be used raw to
decorate salads and desserts. A sweet mild flavour with a delicate perfume, the
flowers are an especially welcome decoration for the salad bowl since they are
available in late winter. The flowers are also used fresh to flavour and colour
confectionery. A soothing tea can be made from the leaves and flowers. A leaf
extract is used to flavour sweets, baked goods and ice cream. Sweet
violet has a long and proven history of folk use, especially in the treatment
of cancer and whooping cough. It also contains salicylic acid, which is used to
make aspirin. It is therefore effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine
and insomnia. The whole plant has anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic,
emollient, expectorant, and laxative properties.
GROWING INFORMATION:
Succeeds
in most soils but prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial
or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Seed is best sown in the
autumn in a cold frame. The seed requires a period of cold stratification and
the germination of stored seed can be erratic. Prick out the seedlings into
individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the
summer.