STREAM VIOLET
STREAM VIOLET
May to JuneGENESIS NAME: VIOLA glabella
DISTRIBUTION: The west coast from Alaska to California.
SEASON: May to June
MEDICAL USE: Violet is cooling and moistening and is used internally as a blood cleanser, respiratory remedy, and lymphatic stimulant. It is taken as a tea or syrup, and can also be eaten for its medicine.
POISONOUS:
EDIBILITY: 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, the yellow flowers of this species can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities. A tea can be made from the leaves.
FEATURES:
LEAVES: The Stream Violet leaves are close to a heart shape, and appear just under the flower, with barbed edges.
FRUITS:
DISTRIBUTION: The west coast from Alaska to California.
SEASON: May to June
MEDICAL USE: Violet is cooling and moistening and is used internally as a blood cleanser, respiratory remedy, and lymphatic stimulant. It is taken as a tea or syrup, and can also be eaten for its medicine.
POISONOUS:
EDIBILITY: 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, the yellow flowers of this species can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities. A tea can be made from the leaves.
FEATURES:
LEAVES: The Stream Violet leaves are close to a heart shape, and appear just under the flower, with barbed edges.
FRUITS:
DESCRIPTION:
One of the most easily recognized native groundcovers in the Pacific Northwest, Stream Violets herald the end of spring with their yellow flowers. They are also known as Pioneer Violets in the native plant world.
This native Northwest herbaceous groundcover spreads by scaly, fleshy rhizomes. The new foliage emerges each year very early (late March to early April) in the Pacific Northwest. Leaves are bright green, round or ovate and slightly toothed.
During the spring tiny (1/2” wide) bright yellow flowers emerge, which are held on short spurs above the foliage. Flowers feature form with distinctive black/purple whiskers on the lower petals. The lower petal forms a landing platform for insects seeking nectar within the spur.
The seeds of this plant are very fecund and one can end up with many plants in a short time
This native Northwest herbaceous groundcover spreads by scaly, fleshy rhizomes. The new foliage emerges each year very early (late March to early April) in the Pacific Northwest. Leaves are bright green, round or ovate and slightly toothed.
During the spring tiny (1/2” wide) bright yellow flowers emerge, which are held on short spurs above the foliage. Flowers feature form with distinctive black/purple whiskers on the lower petals. The lower petal forms a landing platform for insects seeking nectar within the spur.
The seeds of this plant are very fecund and one can end up with many plants in a short time
PHOTO GALLERY
IMAGE BY JAMES COLQUHOUN