Violaceae

Description

A blue flowered violet that grows from slender rhizomes and is stemless in the early season, later grow upright stem.

At a glance

• Height: Up to 4 inches (10 cm).
• Growth Form: Herb.
• Stems: Usually stemless in early part of season, later developing aerial stems.
• Leaves: The leaves can be hairy or hairless; margins are finely round-toothed; reddish-brown stipules; shape: oval to heart-shaped. Three cm long and green.
• Flowers: Flowers have a slender spur which is half as long as lowest petal; the lower three petals often have a whitish base or whitish highlights, the lateral pair of petals are white-bearded. The primary color is blue to deep violet and they are approximately 1.5 cm long.
• Flowering Period: April, May, June, July.
• Fruits: Small ballistic capsules with 3 valves.
• Synonyms: Viola adunca has been identified as Viola adunca ssp. adunca, Viola adunca var. adunca, Viola adunca var. bellidifolia, Viola adunca var. cascadensis, and Viola adunca var. uncinulata.

Ethnobotany

The flowers and leaves have long been used in various herbal remedies as poultices, laxatives, and to relieve cough and lung congestion. The Makah women used to eat the violet flowers and leaves during labor. The Klallam mashed the leaves and applied them to the chest or stomach to relieve pain. The crushed leaves were applied only for a few hours because they can irritate and blister the skin. The flowers have been eaten and used in salads, potherbs, or tea. Some violet species are used for decoration on certain types of food such as cake. In the southern U.S. the leaves have been used to add to soups as a thickening agent.

References

• Starflower Foundation Image Herbarium and Landscaping Pages, 2007.
• WTU Image Herbarium: https://biology.burke.washington.edu/herbarium/imagecollection/taxon.php?Taxon=Viola%20adunca 

Page Editors/Authors

• Gerald B. Stanley

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