Viola papilionacea - Common Blue Violet
 This
common spring flower can be found growing in damp shady areas like woods
or merely under the shadow of a solitary tree or building. The plant in
this picture grew under a Snowball Tree (Viburnum opulus). Violas many
species can hybridize and be difficult to tell apart, but they have similar
properties so it may not be imperative unless you are a professional botanist
and then I'd hope that you'd have some really good book or something to
help you instead of just this web site.
A rich source of vitamin A and C, young leaves can be added to salads or boiled. The dried leaves can be used for tea, and the flowers are sometimes candied. A syrup can be made from a tea brewed from the flowers plus a bunch of sugar. This was used as a candy coloring or a mild laxative for children (or possibly both). Larger doses from the plant have the property of an emetic for those keen on regurgitation. Its juice has been used to treat skin problems. |
| Family: Violet (Violaceae)
Blooms: March through June Native to: Photo Location: Above:Ypsilanti, MI. Right: Mattei Botanical Gardens, Ypsilanti, MI 4/29/2000 |
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