Herb latin name: Viola diffusa


Family: Violaceae (Violet Family)



Medicinal use of Viola diffusa:

Blood tonic, depurative. Aids tissue regeneration. The whole plant is used in the treatment of abscesses, aplastic anaemia, boils, cough, fever, gas, leukaemia, mastitis and mumps.

Description of the plant:



Plant:
Perennial

Habitat of the herb:

Wasted slopes, stream edges, sparse forests and roadsides where they are damp and shady.

Edible parts of Viola diffusa:

Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra. Some caution is advised if the plant has yellow flowers since these can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities. A tea can be made from the leaves.

Propagation of the herb:

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer. Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.

Cultivation of Viola diffusa:

Wasted slopes, stream edges, sparse forests and roadsides where they are damp and shady.

Known hazards of Viola diffusa:

None known

Plant information taken from the Plants For A Future.