Common Name:

General Information

Viola vaginata is a herbaceous perennial plant with a thick, creeping, branched rhizome; it produces a cluster of growth 5 - 15cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

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 pale purple, sometimes white[].

Botanical References

,

Range

E. Asia - central and northern Japan

Habitat

Mountains[]. Shady places in deciduous forests[].

Properties

Edibility Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Insects, Cleistogamous
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

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[].
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[].
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[, , ].

Edible Uses

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 if the plant has yellow flowers since these can cause diarrhoea if eaten in large quantities[].

Root - cooked. Mucilaginous, it is used in soups[, ].

A tea can be made from the leaves[].

Medicinal

None known

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.