Viola odorata

Viola odorata
Conservation status
	; Least Concern(IUCN 3.1)
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Plantae
Clade:	Tracheophytes
Clade:	Angiosperms
Clade:	Eudicots
Clade:	Rosids
Order:	Malpighiales
Family:	Violaceae
Genus:	Viola
Species:	V. odorata
Binomial name
	Viola odorata; L.

Viola odoratais aspeciesofflowering plantin the familyViolaceae,nativeto Europe and Asia. This smallhardy herbaceous perennialis commonly known aswood violet,^[1]sweet violet,^[2]English violet,^[2]common violet,^[2]florist's violet,^[2]orgarden violet.^[2]It has been introduced into the Americas and Australia.

Description

Viola odoratacan be distinguished by the following characteristics:

the flowers are scented^[1]
the flowers are normally either dark violet or white
the leaves and flowers are all in a basal rosette
thestyleis hooked (and does not end with a rounded appendage)
the leaf-stalks have hairs which point downwards
the plant spreads withstolons(above-ground shoots)

These perennial flowers mature at a height of 4–6 in (10–15 cm) and a spread of 8–24 in (20–61 cm).^[1]

Distribution and habitat

V. odorataisnativeto Europe and Asia and has been introduced to the Americas and Australia.^{[citation needed]}

The species can be found near the edges of forests or in clearings; it is also a common "uninvited guest" in shaded lawns or elsewhere in gardens.^{[citation needed]}

Uses

Severalcultivarshave been selected for garden use, of whichV. odorata'Wellsiana' has gained theRoyal Horticultural Society'sAward of Garden Merit.^[3]^[4]

The sweet scent of this flower has proved popular, particularly in the late Victorian period, and has consequently been used in the production of many cosmetic fragrances and perfumes.^[5]The French are known for their violet syrup, most commonly made from an extract of violets.^{[citation needed]}In the United States, this French violet syrup is used to make violet scones and marshmallows.^{[citation needed]}

The scent of violet flowers is distinctive with only a few other flowers having a remotely similar odor. References to violets and the desirable nature of the fragrance go back to classical sources such asPlinyandHoracewhen the name "Ion" was in use to describe this flower from which the name of the distinctive chemical constituents of the flower, theionones,is derived. In 1923, W.A. Poucher wrote that the flowers were widely cultivated both in Europe and the East for their fragrance, with both the flowers and leaves being separately collected and extracted for fragrance, and flowers also collected for use in confectionerygalenicalsyrup^[6]and in the production of medicine.^{[citation needed]}

There is some doubt as to whether the true extract of the violet flower is still used commercially in perfumes.^[7]It was still used in the early 20th century,^[6]but by the time Steffen Arctander was writing in the late 1950s and early 1960s, production had "almost disappeared".^[5]Violet leaf absolute, however, remains widely used in modern perfumery.^[8]^[9]

The leaves are edible.^[10]Real violet flower extract is available for culinary uses, especially in European countries.^{[citation needed]}

Phytochemicals and research

V. oderatacontains the alkaloid violin, about 30cyclotides,and triterpenoids, mostly as constituents of theessential oil.^{[citation needed]}It also contains acannabinoidpeptide called "vodo-C1" that actsin vitroas a selectiveCB2 receptoragonist without CB1 activity.^[11]

In mythology

The violet flower was a favorite in ancient Greece and became the symbol ofAthens.The scent suggested sex, so the violet was an emblematic flower ofAphroditeand of her son,Priapus,the deity of gardens and generation.^[12]^[13]^[14]

Iamuswas a son ofApolloand the nymphEvadne.He was abandoned by his mother at birth. She left him lying in the Arkadian wilds on a bed of violets where he was fed honey by serpents. Eventually, he was discovered by passing shepherds who named him Iamus after the violet (ion) bed.^{[citation needed]}

The goddessPersephoneand her companion Nymphs were gathering rose, crocus, violet, iris, lily, and larkspur blooms in a springtime meadow when she was abducted by the godHades.^[15]

Gallery

form, with stolons visible
WhiteV. odorata

References

^^a ^b ^cAsakawa, Bruce; Asakawa, Sharon (3 September 2001).California Gardener's Guide.Cool Springs Press. pp.38–39.ISBN 978-1-930604-47-6.Retrieved25 November2011.
^^a ^b ^c ^d ^e"Viola odorata".Germplasm Resources Information Network.Agricultural Research Service,United States Department of Agriculture.Retrieved18 December2017.
^"Viola odorata 'Wellsiana' (Vt)".Royal Horticural Society.Retrieved1 March2020.
^"AGM Plants - Ornamental"(PDF).Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 107.Retrieved18 February2019.
^^a ^bPerfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin by Steffen Arctander, First published 1961,ISBN 0-931710-36-7,ISBN 978-0-931710-36-0
^^a ^bPoucher, W.A. (1923).Perfumes Cosmetics and Soaps,Vol. 2, Chapter V: Monographs on Flower Perfumes.
^"Violet".fragrantica.
^Curtis & Williams (2009).An Introduction to Perfumery.2nd Edition.ISBN 978-0-9608752-8-3.ISBN 978-1-870228-24-4.
^"Essential oils".Bo Jensen.
^"Edible Flowers Violets".
^Tomašević, Nataša; Emser, Fabiola Susanna; Muratspahić, Edin; et al. (2024)."Discovery and development of macrocyclic peptide modulators of the cannabinoid 2 receptor".Journal of Biological Chemistry:107330.doi:10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107330.PMC11154713.
^Hatfield, Audrey Wynne (1973).A Herb for Every Ill.St. Martin's Press. p. 173.
^Roberts, Margaret (2000).Edible & Medicinal Flowers.New Africa Books. p. 79.
^Cumo, Christopher (2013).Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants.ABC-CLIO. p. 1113.ISBN 9781598847758.
^"Plants and flowers of Greek myth".Theoi Project.

External links

"Viola odorata L."Australian Plant Name Index(APNI), IBIS database.Centre for Plant Biodiversity Research, Australian Government.
The American Violet Society

[AsakawaAsakawa2001-1] Asakawa, Bruce; Asakawa, Sharon (3 September 2001).California Gardener's Guide.Cool Springs Press. pp.38–39.ISBN 978-1-930604-47-6.Retrieved25 November2011.

[GRIN-2] "Viola odorata".Germplasm Resources Information Network.Agricultural Research Service,United States Department of Agriculture.Retrieved18 December2017.

[3] "Viola odorata 'Wellsiana' (Vt)".Royal Horticural Society.Retrieved1 March2020.

[4] "AGM Plants - Ornamental"(PDF).Royal Horticultural Society. July 2017. p. 107.Retrieved18 February2019.

[Steffen_Arctander_1961-5] Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin by Steffen Arctander, First published 1961,ISBN 0-931710-36-7,ISBN 978-0-931710-36-0

[ReferenceA-6] Poucher, W.A. (1923).Perfumes Cosmetics and Soaps,Vol. 2, Chapter V: Monographs on Flower Perfumes.

[7] "Violet".fragrantica.

[8] Curtis & Williams (2009).An Introduction to Perfumery.2nd Edition.ISBN 978-0-9608752-8-3.ISBN 978-1-870228-24-4.

[9] "Essential oils".Bo Jensen.

[10] "Edible Flowers Violets".

[toma-11] Tomašević, Nataša; Emser, Fabiola Susanna; Muratspahić, Edin; et al. (2024)."Discovery and development of macrocyclic peptide modulators of the cannabinoid 2 receptor".Journal of Biological Chemistry:107330.doi:10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107330.PMC11154713.

[12] Hatfield, Audrey Wynne (1973).A Herb for Every Ill.St. Martin's Press. p. 173.

[13] Roberts, Margaret (2000).Edible & Medicinal Flowers.New Africa Books. p. 79.

[14] Cumo, Christopher (2013).Encyclopedia of Cultivated Plants.ABC-CLIO. p. 1113.ISBN 9781598847758.

[15] "Plants and flowers of Greek myth".Theoi Project.

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