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Violaceae FAMILY

Viola biflora

Viola biflora

Edibility
2/5
Medicinal
2/5

Safety & 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[ 62 Title A Field Guide to N. American Edible Wild Plants. Publication Author Elias. T. and Dykeman. P. Publisher Van Nostrand Reinhold Year 1982 ISBN 0442222009 Description Very readable. , 85 Title Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Publication Author Harrington. H. D. Publisher University of New Mexico Press Year 1967 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 Description A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants. , 159 Title Wild Food Plants of Indiana. Publication Author McPherson. A. and S. Publisher Indiana University Press Year 1977 ISBN 0-253-28925-4 Description A nice pocket guide to this region of America. ].

Botanical Description

Viola biflora is a herbaceous perennial plant forming a mat of growth 2 - 20cm tall from a short, creeping rhizome[ 74 Title Flora of the USSR. Publication Author Komarov. V. L. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher Israel Program for Scientific Translation Year 1968 ISBN - Description An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet. , 275 Title Flora of Japan Publication Author Website http://www.foj.info Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora - an excellent resource. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and incense. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate
Native RangeEurasia - northern regions and higher elevations in the south from Norway to Spain and east to the Himalayas and Japan; Northwestern N. America
HabitatAlpine or subalpine meadows, thickets, forest margins and rocky crevices; at elevations from 2,500 - 4,000 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. In sunny or half-shaded grasslands and forests, on rocks along streams, in subalpine and alpine zones[ 275 Title Flora of Japan Publication Author Website http://www.foj.info Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora - an excellent resource. ].