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Purple viola odorata flower with a hairy white center and orange stamens
viola odorata
Viola odorata

Sweet Violet, a species native to Europe and Asia, has established itself as an indispensable perennial in shaded gardens around the world​​. Culinary enthusiasts and herbalists value Sweet Violet for its edible leaves and flower buds, which can be consumed raw or cooked. The leaves, with their mild flavor, make an excellent salad base, while the flowers add a sweet, perfumed note to salads and desserts. These attributes, coupled with its medicinal properties, have been utilized in various applications, including flavoring for puddings, teas, and confectionery. Its soothing teas, made from both leaves and flowers, also carry the bonus of its medicinal benefits​​. Medicinally, it has been traditionally used to treat a range of respiratory ailments due to its anti-inflammatory and expectorant properties. The plant contains salicylic acid, which is beneficial for headaches and migraines, and the entire plant is valued in traditional medicine for its therapeutic properties​​​​. In addition to its ornamental and culinary uses, Sweet Violet's flowers and leaves are also used in perfumery, and the plant has applications in aromatherapy for treating bronchial complaints and exhaustion. Moreover, a pigment extracted from the flowers serves as a natural pH indicator, highlighting the plant's multifaceted utility​​. Photographed in Bogotá, Colombia.

Viola odorata blue flower covered in raindrops

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