Viola pinnata

Violaceae Edible: Flowers, Leaves 30 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

A perennial reaching 0.1 m tall, hardy to UK zone 5. Hermaphroditic and insect-pollinated. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils with good drainage. Prefers mildly acid to neutral pH and moist conditions. Grows in semi-shade or full sun.

Description

Edible Uses

Young leaves and flower buds can be eaten raw or cooked. When added to soup, they act as a thickener much like okra. A tea can be brewed from the leaves.

Medicinal Uses

Anodyne, antiseptic, blood tonic.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant.

Where It Grows

Asia, China, Europe, Slovenia,

Cultivation

Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers a pH between 6 and 6.5. A calcicole species. All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities.

Propagation

Seed is best sown in autumn in a cold frame. Stored seed can be sown in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out seedlings into individual pots when large enough to handle and plant out in summer. Divide plants in autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can go straight into permanent positions, but smaller divisions are better potted up and grown on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until establishing well, then planted out in summer or the following spring.

Other Uses

No other uses known.

Notes

There are about 500 Viola species.

Also Known As

Pernatolistna vijolica

References (3)

http://www.botanic-gardens-ljubljana.com/en/plants
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Sp. pl. 2:934. 1753