SWEET VIOLET (ciola odorata)

Hardy perennial. Wild flower with scented deep purple flowers and heart-shaped leaves. Flowers early spring. Found in the wild in woodland and hedgebanks It is our only native violet with scented flowers. Freud linked the plant�s name to the Greek �viol�, meaning rape, and the English word �violate�, and concluded that the plant had sexual connotations. He claimed that to dream of Violets was to dream of being raped.

Legend has it that the name Viola comes from the Greek �ion� - Jupiter turned Io, his love, into a cow and the earth brought forth Violets for her to eat. It was a symbol of the city of ancient Athens, and a symbol of fertility to the ancient Greeks. Also the symbol of Aphrodite and her son, Priapus. Venus made the Violet blue � she asked her son, Cupid, who was more beautiful: herself or other women. He said that other women were and so she beat these women until they turned blue and into Violets. Another legend says that a nymph called Lo, who Zeus loved, was changed into a cow by him to hide her from his wife. When Lo wept over the taste of grass he changed her tears into Violets she could eat.

Yet another myth tells of King Frost who wanted a bride to melt his heart and bring him happiness. His courtiers found him a maiden called Violet who he fell in love with and made him a kinder person. Violet wanted to see her own people again so he allowed her to visit them each spring in the form of a flower and then return back to Frost�s kingdom each winter.

Violets have also been associated in ancient times with the resurrection of the seasonally dying god, Attis, who mutilated himself under a pine tree and bled to death. During the spring equinox a pine tree would be felled and brought into the sanctuary of Cybele, the earth mother goddess where it would be worshipped and wrapped in wool and garlanded with Violets, which were said to have sprung from the blood of Attis. Another legend refers to Ajax who killed himself and Violets sprang from the ground where he bled.

While Napolean was in exile in Elba, he is alleged to have told friends that he would return to France when the Violets appeared in spring. To determine if a stranger was loyal to Napolean or not, he would be asked if he liked Violets. To reply �yes� or �no� meant that the stranger was unaware of the plot to return. An answer of �eh bien� meant the stranger knew and so was a loyal supporter.

Traditionally, the Violet was the real flower of Valentine�s Day, not the Rose. Valentine was persecuted by a Roman Emperor who imprisoned him. In prison, Valentine would crush the Violet flowers growing outside to make into an ink for writing on the leaves to his friends. A dove collected these messages. He was executed on 14 February 269 AD. In Hindu mythology, the Violet symbolises the phallus of the god, Siva.

Ancient Britons used Sweet Violets as cosmetics. The Romans made a wine from the flowers, and placed Violets on the graves of children. Pliny suggested wearing a garland of Sweet Violets around the head to dispel wine fumes and clear headache. He also prescribed Violets for gout and spleen problems. To the Victorians, the plant symbolised faithfulness and love. In a tenth century herbal, Violet was said to be powerful against wicked spirits. Medieval Christians believed Violets bowed their heads in shame at what mankind had done to Christ and were no longer upright plants after the shadow of the Cross fell on them at Calvary. This may explain why Sweet Violets were sometimes used in Good Friday rituals. Very high in vitamin C. in olden days the flowers were boiled and mixed with milk, rice, flour and honey to make �cakes�.

Leaves provide food for the larvae of Fritillary butterflies � Small Pearl Bordered fritillary and Silver Washed Fritillary. Coal tits, Bullfinches and Woodpipers eat its seeds. If you look closely at a Violet, it has flowers that never actually bloom, called cleistogamus flowers. They appear lower on the plant, sometimes underground, and later in the season. They contain all the plant needs to make seeds. They are probably an insurance policy for the plant because they bloom so early when insect pollination is far scantier than in warmer months. Bees pollinate the plant. Moths plant � Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing and Lesser Broad Bordered Yellow Underwing.

Ants help in the pollination of the plant. The seeds have small protuberances which contain oils and sugars that attract the ants, who carry the seeds to their nest and thus disperse them, giving the plant more of a chance to germinate than ones that have just dropped onto the forest floor.

Dreaming of violets will bring good fortune! Wear them round your neck to stop getting drunk! Old herbalists recommended Violets for ague, epilepsy, eye inflammation, pleurisy and jaundice. Syrup of Violets is a laxative, colouring agent and flavouring in some medicines. Preparation of Violet leaves has also been used to ease the pain of cancer, particularly cancer of the throat, and has even been known to cure cancer of the tongue.

Oil from the petals has been used in perfumes and flavourings since ancient times. Ancient Greeks used the plant as a sedative. It has also been used in treating headaches and insomnia. Used in medieval times to make the house smell nice. Violets were believed to be weakened by thunderstorms and won�t grow where the air is unclean. Wear Violets and Marjoram in winter to protect from colds. Troubadors in Toulouse, France, were given prizes of Violets for their poetry. In the Middle Ages, in Germany, the first Violet of spring was celebrated with dancing. Similarly, the Romans would welcome the arrival of spring by scattering Violet petals and leaves in banquet halls, and drinking violetum, a sweet wine. Violets have been used in bridal bouquets for centuries � symbolic of faithfulness and warding off evil. Violets have also been used as symbols of fasting or mourning. In the nineteenth century they were emblematic of death at an early age. Were also scattered on floors to make the room smell nice.

Violet petals can be made into a cough syrup, and a tea will relieve bronchitis. Use also as a gargle for sore throats. Flowers can be candied. Violet tea helps a dry mouth. Flowers and leaves can ease congestion. The roots contain violine which, in large doses, acts as an emetic. It also contains a glycoside of salicylic acid (natural Aspirin). A decoction of the dried root has laxative properties. Mrs Grieve, in her herbal, claims that Celtic women mixed Violets and goat�s milk to make a beauty lotion. Also used for impetigo and ulcers. Used externally the fresh crushed leaves can be applied to reduce swelling and soothe irritation.Plant in sun or shade. Spreads and self-seeds well.

CAUTION � LARGE DOSES OF THE SEEDS AND ROOT CAN LEAD TO SEVERE STOMACH UPSET, NERVOUSNESS, BREATHING DIFFICULTIES AND TROUBLE REGULATING BLOOD PRESSURE.

*This sheet is provided for information only and is in no way a prescription for use. Please seek the advice of a qualified herbalist before using*

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