Tuesday 25 March 2008

The Sweet Violet

This kind of viola is common mainly in Europe and Asia, but has also been seen in North America and Australasia. The sweet violets Latin name is Viola Odorata. It is commonly known as Sweet Violet, English Violet, Common Violet, or Garden Violet. The herb is known as Banafsa, Banafsha or Banaksa in India, where it is used as remedy to cure sore throat and tonsilitis.

The species can be found near the edges of forests or in clearings; it is also a common "uninvited guest" in shaded lawns or elsewhere in gardens.

The flowers appear as early as February and last until the end of April. Viola is quite similar to other species of violet, but can be distinguished by the following characteristics:

the flowers have a sweet scent,
the flowers are normally either dark violet or white,
the leaves and flowers are all in a basal rosette,
the style is hooked (and does not end with a rounded appendage),
the leaf-stalks have hairs which point downwards, and
the plant spreads with stolons (above-ground shoots).