Practical
Plants

Viola adunca

Western Dog Violet

a perennial member of the Viola genus in the family Violaceae.

No photo available

Taxonomy and growth

Family
Violaceae
Genus
Viola
Life cycle
perennial
Height
0.1 m
Fertility
Self fertile, Insects, Cleistogamous
Flower type
hermaphrodite
Pollinators
Insects, Cleistogamous

Uses

Edible uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[2][3]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[7][9][1]. A tea can be made from the dried leaves[3].

Plant part
Flowers
Plant part
Leaves
Product or use
Tea

Medicinal uses

Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

An infusion of the leaves and roots has been used to treat stomach problems and asthma in children[6]. An infusion of the roots and leaves has been used as a wash and poultice on sore and swollen joints[6]. The roots and leaves have been chewed by women during childbirth[6]. A poultice of the chewed leaves has been applied to sore eyes[6]. A poultice of the crushed flowers has been applied to the side or chest in the treatment of pain[6].

Product or use
Analgesic
Product or use
Antiasthmatic
Product or use
Birthing aid
Product or use
Ophthalmic
Product or use
Poultice
Product or use
Salve

Material uses

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

A blue dye can be obtained from the flowers[6].

Product or use
Dye

Environment

Range
Eastern and Western N. America - Alaska to California, also Ontario to Quebec and New Brunswick.
Habitat
Damp banks and edges of meadows in most forest communities, 1500 - 2400 metres from Alaska to N. California[8].
Light
full sun
Shade tolerance
light shade
Water
moderate
Hardiness
Zone 4+
Soil textures
sandy, loamy, clay
Soil pH
acid, neutral
Drainage
well drained
Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
No
Drought
intolerant

Propagation

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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

This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.

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[4]. 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[7][9][1]. There is at least one named form selected for its ornamental value[4]. 'Alba' has white flowers[4]. Flowers formed late in the season are cleistogamous (lacking petals, the flowers do not open but are self-pollinated)[5].

References

  1. McPherson. A. and S. Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Indiana University Press 1977-00-00 ISBN 0-253-28925-4

    ↩1↩2

  2. Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169

    ↩

  3. Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9

    ↩1↩2

  4. Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5

    ↩1↩2↩3

  5. Craighead. J., Craighead. F. and Davis. R. A Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers The Riverside Press 1963-00-00 ISBN 63-7093

    ↩

  6. Moerman. D. Native American Ethnobotany Timber Press. Oregon. 1998-00-00 ISBN 0-88192-453-9

    ↩1↩2↩3↩4↩5↩6

  7. Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Van Nostrand Reinhold 1982-00-00 ISBN 0442222009

    ↩1↩2

  8. Munz. A California Flora. University of California Press 1959-00-00

    ↩

  9. Harrington. H. D. Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. University of New Mexico Press 1967-00-00 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9

    ↩1↩2

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