VIOLA ODORATA
INTRODUCTION:
Spring! All this free food and medicine exploding at our feet, can you believe this country is actually importing 80% of its seeds for industrial production while farmers are selling off their lands to expats and the veggie markets are being replaced by super markets selling imported food!?
Spring is also gardening season, and since my dedication on plants is originally from the perspective of medicinal food, not beauty- nor season-bound, let's talk about something you civilized people can relate to: Some pretty flowers originating from the wild but domesticated and currently seen in the gardening shops, yes, even the supermarkets: Ripe for planting, many of these are not only edible but also medicinal: Primroses, tagetes and violets are a few. Well, since some nasty green bug just ate my primroses overnight and tagetes are hardly seen wild in our parts of the world, I think I'll write about the violet! My eighth article introduces the Sweet violet:
QUOTE:
”I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.”
~ Shakespeare
VIOLA ODORATA:
There are many species in the violet family, but the one seemingly combining beauty, edibility and healing properties is most likely 'Viola odorata': the Sweet violet. Other common names in English are Wood violet, English violet, Common violet, Florist's violet or Garden violet. Common Turkish names are 'Kır menekşesi', 'Kokulu menekşe' or just plain 'Menekşe'. Although the Sweet violet does occur in the wild it is more famous as a garden flower. Violets are not hard to grow, but since they require a cold frame in order to germinate they are best sown in autumn, thus most folks preferr to buy them in spring and in pots in order to plant in their gardens for aestethic purposes. Once they take root and if planted in a suitable spot however, violets might be hard to get rid off. They propagate both through seeds and roots and can spread rather furiously. A weed best eradicated by eating the abundance.
MYTHOLOGY & HISTORY:
* The Greek word for violet is 'io'. Io is a character in Greek mythology and the daughter of King Argos, whom Zeus loved. However, Zeus was concerned that Hera would discover their affair, so he turned Io into a cow and then created the sweet-scented flowers that we now know as violets for her to eat.
* Venus had been arguing with her son Cupid, as to which was more beautiful… herself or a nearby group of girls, and Cupid, with no fear of his mother, declared for the girls. This sent Venus into such a rage that she beat her rivals till they turned blue and became violets.
* In modern times, a story has grown up around Napoleon Bonaparte and the violet. While in exile on the island of Elba, he supposedly confided to his friends that he would return to France with the appearance of the violets in the spring. His partisans rallied around the symbol of his triumphant return and secretly referred to him as Corporal violet. To determine a loyal supporter, the question was asked of a stranger: –Do you like violets? If the reply to the query was Yes (Oui) or No (Non), it revealed one who did not know of the plot. If the answer was –’Eh bien’–, the loyalty of the person to the case was affirmed.
* In Christian symbolism, the violet stood for the virtue of humility, or humble modesty, and several legends tell of violets springing up on the graves of virgins and saints.
* The sweet scent of this flower has proved popular throughout the generations particularly in the late Victorian period, and has consequently been used in the production of many cosmetic fragrances and perfumes.
* European folktales associate violets with death and mourning.
MODERN RESEARCH:
Rich in vitamin A and C. The Sweet violet contains salicylic acid which is used to make aspirin, therefore effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine and insomnia. Sometimes used in cancer cases as blood purifier to aid the liver in eliminating waste from the blood. The whole plant is anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, beneficial on the respiratory system, and promotes the flow of urine. Large doses might induce vomiting and act laxative.
It is taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, coughs, asthma, and cancer of the breast, lungs or digestive tract. The flowers softens the skin and helps heal cuts and bruises, also used for mouth and throat infections. The petals are made into a syrup and used in the treatment of infantile disorders. The seeds are diuretic and purgative and have been used in the treatment of urinary complaints. An essential oil from the flowers is used in aromatherapy in the treatment of bronchial complaints, exhaustion and skin complaints. A homeopathic remedy is made from the whole fresh plant.
EDIBLE USES:
Sweet violet makes an excellent tea and the petals make a beautiful addition to salads. Young leaves are rather tasteless, still healthier than most common vegetables.
OTHER USES:
Sweet violet has a long and proven history of folk use, especially in the treatment of cancer and bad breath. An essential oil from the flowers and leaves is used in perfumery. The flowers are used to flavour breath fresheners. Plants can be grown as a ground cover when spaced about 30cm apart each way, creating an effective weed-excluding cover.
CONCLUSION:
Except for making syrup, I have found no common use of the violet in Turkey in any book I have read. Either I have not read enough books or somehow we forgot about this miracle plant, and degraded it to a 'pretty flower'.
INTRODUCTION:
Spring! All this free food and medicine exploding at our feet, can you believe this country is actually importing 80% of its seeds for industrial production while farmers are selling off their lands to expats and the veggie markets are being replaced by super markets selling imported food!?
Spring is also gardening season, and since my dedication on plants is originally from the perspective of medicinal food, not beauty- nor season-bound, let's talk about something you civilized people can relate to: Some pretty flowers originating from the wild but domesticated and currently seen in the gardening shops, yes, even the supermarkets: Ripe for planting, many of these are not only edible but also medicinal: Primroses, tagetes and violets are a few. Well, since some nasty green bug just ate my primroses overnight and tagetes are hardly seen wild in our parts of the world, I think I'll write about the violet! My eighth article introduces the Sweet violet:
QUOTE:
”I know a bank where the wild thyme blows, Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows, Quite over-canopied with luscious woodbine, With sweet musk-roses and with eglantine.”
~ Shakespeare
VIOLA ODORATA:
There are many species in the violet family, but the one seemingly combining beauty, edibility and healing properties is most likely 'Viola odorata': the Sweet violet. Other common names in English are Wood violet, English violet, Common violet, Florist's violet or Garden violet. Common Turkish names are 'Kır menekşesi', 'Kokulu menekşe' or just plain 'Menekşe'. Although the Sweet violet does occur in the wild it is more famous as a garden flower. Violets are not hard to grow, but since they require a cold frame in order to germinate they are best sown in autumn, thus most folks preferr to buy them in spring and in pots in order to plant in their gardens for aestethic purposes. Once they take root and if planted in a suitable spot however, violets might be hard to get rid off. They propagate both through seeds and roots and can spread rather furiously. A weed best eradicated by eating the abundance.
MYTHOLOGY & HISTORY:
* The Greek word for violet is 'io'. Io is a character in Greek mythology and the daughter of King Argos, whom Zeus loved. However, Zeus was concerned that Hera would discover their affair, so he turned Io into a cow and then created the sweet-scented flowers that we now know as violets for her to eat.
* Venus had been arguing with her son Cupid, as to which was more beautiful… herself or a nearby group of girls, and Cupid, with no fear of his mother, declared for the girls. This sent Venus into such a rage that she beat her rivals till they turned blue and became violets.
* In modern times, a story has grown up around Napoleon Bonaparte and the violet. While in exile on the island of Elba, he supposedly confided to his friends that he would return to France with the appearance of the violets in the spring. His partisans rallied around the symbol of his triumphant return and secretly referred to him as Corporal violet. To determine a loyal supporter, the question was asked of a stranger: –Do you like violets? If the reply to the query was Yes (Oui) or No (Non), it revealed one who did not know of the plot. If the answer was –’Eh bien’–, the loyalty of the person to the case was affirmed.
* In Christian symbolism, the violet stood for the virtue of humility, or humble modesty, and several legends tell of violets springing up on the graves of virgins and saints.
* The sweet scent of this flower has proved popular throughout the generations particularly in the late Victorian period, and has consequently been used in the production of many cosmetic fragrances and perfumes.
* European folktales associate violets with death and mourning.
MODERN RESEARCH:
Rich in vitamin A and C. The Sweet violet contains salicylic acid which is used to make aspirin, therefore effective in the treatment of headaches, migraine and insomnia. Sometimes used in cancer cases as blood purifier to aid the liver in eliminating waste from the blood. The whole plant is anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, beneficial on the respiratory system, and promotes the flow of urine. Large doses might induce vomiting and act laxative.
It is taken internally in the treatment of bronchitis, respiratory catarrh, coughs, asthma, and cancer of the breast, lungs or digestive tract. The flowers softens the skin and helps heal cuts and bruises, also used for mouth and throat infections. The petals are made into a syrup and used in the treatment of infantile disorders. The seeds are diuretic and purgative and have been used in the treatment of urinary complaints. An essential oil from the flowers is used in aromatherapy in the treatment of bronchial complaints, exhaustion and skin complaints. A homeopathic remedy is made from the whole fresh plant.
EDIBLE USES:
Sweet violet makes an excellent tea and the petals make a beautiful addition to salads. Young leaves are rather tasteless, still healthier than most common vegetables.
OTHER USES:
Sweet violet has a long and proven history of folk use, especially in the treatment of cancer and bad breath. An essential oil from the flowers and leaves is used in perfumery. The flowers are used to flavour breath fresheners. Plants can be grown as a ground cover when spaced about 30cm apart each way, creating an effective weed-excluding cover.
CONCLUSION:
Except for making syrup, I have found no common use of the violet in Turkey in any book I have read. Either I have not read enough books or somehow we forgot about this miracle plant, and degraded it to a 'pretty flower'.
