We have treated this species in line with the Flora of China[], which accepts Viola arcuata and treats Viola verecunda A.Gray as a synonym. Some other treatments, however, such as GRIN, treat Viola verecunda as distinct[]. The records on plant uses were recorded for viola verecunda[].

Common Name:

General Information

Viola arcuata is a herbaceous perennial plant producing several ascending to procumbent stems or stolons and forming a carpet of growth up to 35cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It has been cultivated in the past for use as a vegetable and medicine[].

Known Hazards

All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ]. The flowers of this species are white to purple[].

Botanical References

, ,

Range

E. Asia - Russian Far East, Mongolia, China, Japan, Korea , India, Nepal, Myanmar, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, New Guinea

Habitat

Wet grassy places in lowlands and hills all over Japan[]. Moist and marshy places, grasslands, grassy places on mountain slopes, thickets, margins of mixed forests, fields, alongside houses; usually at elevations below 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.30 m
Pollinators	Insects
Cultivation Status	Cultivated, Wild

Cultivation Details

Viola arcuata has a very wide natural range from the cold temperate regions of northern Siberia to the tropics of southeast Asia, where it is usually found at elevations above 1,000 metres[].
Species in this genus generally prefer a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. They can tolerate sandstone and limestone soils but become chlorotic if the pH is too high. They prefer a pH between 6 and 6.5[].
All members of this genus have more or less edible leaves and flower buds, though those species with yellow flowers can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ].
Like several other members of this genus, this species has two types of flower. The first type has petals and is pollinated by insects, the second type, known as cleistogamous, does not have petals, never opens, but self-fertilizes and produces fertile seed[].

Edible Uses

Young leaves and flower buds - raw or cooked[, ]. A sweetish flavour[]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[, ].

A tea can be made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

The leaves are crushed and applied to cuts, swellings, ulcers and wounds[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - best sown in the autumn in a cold frame. Sow stored seed in early spring in a cold frame. Prick out the seedlings into individual pots when they are large enough to handle and plant them out in the summer.
Division in the autumn or just after flowering. Larger divisions can be planted out direct into their permanent positions, though we have found that it is best to pot up smaller divisions and grow them on in light shade in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are growing away well. Plant them out in the summer or the following spring.