Viola obtusa
(Makino) Makino
(c) 空猫 T. N, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by 空猫 T. N
(c) kemurineko, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC-SA)
(c) sakai, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
What to Eat
Edible parts: Flowers, Leaves
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. Some caution is advised if the plant has yellow flowers, as these can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities.
Where to Find It
It is a temperate plant.
Asia, Japan, Korea, Manchuria,
How to Identify
Viola obtusa is a compact perennial reaching 10cm tall. Hermaphroditic flowers are pollinated by insects. It grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage. It tolerates semi-shade or full sun and requires moist soil with mildly acidic to neutral pH.
How to Grow
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.
Medicinal Uses
None known
Other Uses
No other uses known.
Wikipedia
Viola obtusa is a compact perennial reaching 10cm tall. Hermaphroditic flowers are pollinated by insects. It grows in light sandy, medium loamy, or heavy clay soils with good drainage. It tolerates semi-shade or full sun and requires moist soil with mildly acidic to neutral pH.
Notes
There are about 500 Viola species.
References (2)
- Bot. Mag. (Tokyo) 26:151. 1912
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
