Common Name: Twoflower Violet

General Information

Viola biflora is a herbaceous perennial plant forming a mat of growth 2 - 20cm tall from a short, creeping rhizome[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and incense. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Known Hazards

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

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eurasia - northern regions and higher elevations in the south from Norway to Spain and east to the Himalayas and Japan; Northwestern N. America

Habitat

Alpine or subalpine meadows, thickets, forest margins and rocky crevices; at elevations from 2,500 - 4,000 metres[]. In sunny or half-shaded grasslands and forests, on rocks along streams, in subalpine and alpine zones[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.15 m
Pollinators	Insects, Cleistogamous
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Viola biflora is quite cold tolerant, unharmed by temperatures of -10°c and probably lower[].
Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Tolerates sandstone and limestone soils but becomes chlorotic if the pH is too high. Prefers 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, like this one, 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[, , ]. When added to soup they thicken it in much the same way as okra[, ].

Flowers - raw[]. The flowers of this species are usually yellow[] - some caution is advised since plants with yellow flowers have ben known to cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[].

A tea can be made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

The root is emetic[].

The flowers are antispasmodic, diaphoretic, emollient and pectoral[]. They are used for treating skin irritations[].

The leaves are emollient and laxative[]. They are used for treating skin eruptions[].

The plant can be used as a sustitute for sweet violet, Viola odorata[].

Other Uses

The stems and fragrant blossoms have been placed in the clothes cupboard to impart a nice smell to the clothes[].

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.