Sweet Violet

Spring

Mar 28

Written By luke jefford

How To ID Me And What I’m Good For?

My ID Features:

Sweet Violet

Latin Name - Viola odorata.

Common Names - Sweet Violet, English Violet, Common Violet, Florist's Violet, Garden Violet.

Family - Violaceae.

Season - Spring & Summer.

Edible bits - Flowers & Leaves.

Habitat - Hedgerows, woodlands, scrub (loves limestone soils).

Possible Confusion - Other members of the violet family. Their flowers are very distinctive in this family. Although, all violets are edible. Violets can be a bit tricky to identify as species are prone to considerable variation and hybridisation. The sepal shape is consistent and reliable to differentiate between Sweet Violets from Dog Violets.

Description - Our only native aromatic violet. Particularly popular in victorian times in the production of many cosmetic fragrances and perfumes. In more modern times it is mostly used for culinary purposes. We’ve read conflicting reports on the decline of this species, but we expect its most likely due to habitat loss rather than over picking. We quite often find other species of invasive plants like three cornered leek cohabiting the same spaces, strangling their ability to thrive.

There are 6 sub-species of Viola Ordorata growing wild in the U.K as far as we can find [source]. The most common variety we find locally is Viola Odorata var. Praecox. Differentiating between different violet species is quite easy with distinctive leaf shapes. Also, sweet violet being the only to give off a scent. It is quite easy to tell if you have picked the right violet, simply pick a few flowers and pop inside of a jar in the warmth of your home. The smell will be very apparent within a short period of time. We are really lucky here in Dorset to have rich calcareous soil, so sweet violet is massively abundant. Though it is distributed throughout the lowlands of the UK.

Interestingly, the leaves are an excellent edible, being mild in flavour throughout the season. Though they do become tough as the sun beats down on them. They hold great culinary uses also actually thickening sauces and soups, much like okra. The leaves are also scented and used in perfumery and confectionary.

We wouldn’t recommend picking any threatened wild violet species as it would only be for visual reasons, rather than holding any culinary potential.

Physical Characteristics - Growing in patches Sweet Violet can differentiate in colour depending on what subspecies it is (please see source further up the page). The easiest way to tell apart from other violet species is by its leaf shape. They are distinctively rounded and heart shaped at the base. Almost appearing entirely circular at first sight. Both leaves and flowers grow directly from a central point with the flowering stems completely leafless. The sepals are both blunt and rounded.

Medicinal Qualities - The leaves are high in Vitamins A, C and rutin. Rutin has been shown in animal and in vitro studies to be antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and blood thinning. Many foods that are high in rutin, such as buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum), are eaten traditionally as a remedy for hemorrhoids and varicose veins.

Sweet violet has a long and proven history of medicinal folk use, especially in the treatment 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 is anti-inflammatory, diaphoretic, diuretic, emollient, expectorant, and laxative. It is taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, coughs, and asthma. Externally, it is used to treat mouth and throat infections. The plant can either be used fresh, or harvested when it comes into flower and then be dried for later use. The flowers are demulcent and emollient. They are used in the treatment of biliousness and lung troubles. The roots produce a much stronger expectorant than other parts of the plant, but they also contain the alkaloid violine which at higher doses is strongly emetic and purgative. Roots are gathered in the autumn and dried for later use. The seeds are diuretic and purgative. They have been used in the treatment of urinary complaints are considered to be a good remedy for gravel. A homeopathic remedy is made from the whole fresh plant. It is considered useful in the treatment of spasmodic coughs and rheumatism of the wrist. An essential oil from the flowers is used in aromatherapy in the treatment of bronchial complaints, exhaustion and skin complaints [source].

Harvesting Sustainability - Only take what you need. Harvest a few flower heads from each plant. The plant is reproduced by seed (previously flowers), so to maintain a successful forage year on year, be mindful. Also many pollinators love these guys!

Never munch on a hunch! Volf takes no responsibility for anything consumed.

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