The name of this taxon is under review in the World Checklist of Selected Plant Species, where it has been proposed that the correct name should be Viola obliqua Aiton (non Hill).

Common Name: Marsh Blue Violet

General Information

Viola cucullata is a stemless, herbaceous perennial plant producing a mat of growth 5 - 20cm tall from a thick, fleshy rhizome[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens, where it can be used as a ground cover.

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[, , ]. This form has white or blue flowers.

Botanical References

, ,

Range

Eastern N. America - Ontario to Newfoundland, south to Tennessee and Georgia.

Habitat

Wet places, often in open woods[]. Wet meadows, springs, bogs, swamps etc[]. Open or wooded wet areas, seeps, springs, swamps, marshes, streamsides; at elevations up to 2,000 metres[].

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

Prefers a cool moist well-drained humus-rich soil in partial or dappled shade and protection from scorching winds. Very intolerant of drought[]. Succeeds in dense shade[]. 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 can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[, , ].
A polymorphic species[]. There are many named forms, selected for their ornamental value[].
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[]. The plant usually self-sows freely[]..

Edible Uses

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

A tea can be made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

An infusion of the plant has been used in the treatment of coughs, colds and dysentery[].

A poultice of the leaves has been used to reduce the pain of headaches[].

A poultice of the crushed root has been applied to boils[].

Agroforestry Uses:

A good ground cover plant but it is slow to thicken up and may need weeding for the first year or so[].

Other Uses

An infusion of the root has been used to soak corn seeds before planting them in order to keep off insects[].

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.