wood violet

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• English violet
• March violet
• florist's violet
• garden violet
• sweet blue violet
• sweet violet
• common violet

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Viola hirta subsp. odorata
• Viola hirta var. odorata

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and is classified under the phylum Streptophyta and class Equisetopsida. Within the subclass Magnoliidae, it is ordered under Malpighiales and categorized in the family Violaceae. Ultimately, it is identified by the genus Viola.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant, Viola odorata, exhibits a specific presence across several regions in Northern Europe. In the British Isles, it can be found growing throughout Great Britain and Ireland. Moving further north, the species is also distributed across the Scandinavian Peninsula. Specifically, it inhabits the landscapes of Norway and Denmark. Additionally, its geographical range extends into the northernmost territories of Finland.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Viola odorata is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, spanning from sea level up to an elevation of 2700 m AMSL. It is primarily found in lowland habitats, where it thrives in environments that provide the necessary moisture and shade required for its growth patterns. This wide elevational range allows the species to inhabit diverse ecological niches, from coastal plains to high-altitude montane zones, provided the specific habitat requirements are met.

Elevational range max:

2700 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

0 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Viola odorata is characterized by its status as a perennial plant, allowing it to persist through multiple growing seasons. As a hemicryptophyte, it survives unfavorable conditions by keeping its perennuating buds at the soil surface, protected by leaf litter or ground cover. This species maintains an evergreen habit, ensuring that its foliage remains present to facilitate photosynthesis even during cooler periods. Through its developmental strategy, it effectively manages its life cycle to ensure long-term survival and consistent presence within its ecological niche.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

hemicryptophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Viola odorata is characterized by its growth form as a non-woody herb and forb. It is a terrestrial, independent plant that does not function as an epiphyte or a parasite. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, vine, or liana, and it exhibits a prostrate shoot orientation. In terms of dimensions, the plant height typically ranges from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.4 m, with an average height of approximately 0.19 m. Additionally, its shoots reach a maximum length of 20 cm.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

herb

Growth form :

forb

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

0.4 m

Plant height mean:

0.192666666666667 m

Plant height min:

0.03 m

Shoot length max:

20 cm

Shoot orientation :

prostrate

Woodiness :

non-woody

Physiology

The physiology of Viola odorata is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway and a non-carnivorous nutritional strategy, as it does not possess the mechanisms to fix nitrogen. The plant organizes its foliage in a basal rosette arrangement, featuring orbicular leaf forms that exhibit significant morphological variation. On average, the leaves maintain a mean length of 3 cm (ranging from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 12.5 cm) and a mean width of 5 cm (varying from a minimum of 1.5 cm to a maximum of 4.5 cm), resulting in a mean leaf size of 19.755 cm². These morphological dimensions contribute to a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 293.5 cm²/g, reflecting the plant's resource allocation and leaf density characteristics.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf arrangement :

rosette

Leaf form :

orbicular

Leaf length max:

12.5 cm

Leaf length mean:

3 cm

Leaf length min:

1.5 cm

Leaf size mean:

19.755 cm²

Leaf width max:

4.5 cm

Leaf width mean:

5 cm

Leaf width min:

1.5 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

293.5 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Viola odorata is primarily sexual, characterized by bisexual flowers that facilitate efficient pollination and seed production. The flowering period typically begins in April and concludes in May, producing violet-colored flowers that range in length from 1.5 cm to 2 cm. These flowers utilize a biotic pollination syndrome, specifically relying on insects such as bees to facilitate the transfer of pollen, although self-fertilization is also present. Following successful pollination, the plant develops a dry, dehiscent fruit in the form of a capsule. This capsule typically measures approximately 1 cm in both length and width. Within each fruit, there is a high capacity for seed production, with a yield ranging from 101 to 1000 seeds per fruit. The resulting seeds are relatively small and uniform, with a mean length of 2.5 mm, a mean mass of approximately 0.003262111 g (ranging from 0.002288 g to 0.005 g), and a consistent mean volume of 3.8 mm³. Dispersal is achieved through an autochorous syndrome, meaning the plant employs autochorous mechanisms to spread its seeds. Notably, asexual reproduction is absent in this species.

Dehiscence :

dehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

autochorous

Flower colour :

violet

Flower length max:

2 cm

Flower length min:

1.5 cm

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit dryness :

dry

Fruit length mean:

1 cm

Fruit type :

capsule

Fruit width mean:

1 cm

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

bee

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Reproduction sexual :

bisexual

Seed length mean:

2.5 mm

Seed mass max:

0.005 g

Seed mass mean:

0.003262111 g

Seed mass min:

0.002288 g

Seed volume max:

3.8 mm³

Seeds_per_fruit :

101-1000

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Viola odorata has 4 reported plant parts identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, flower, root, seed.

Leaf

1. Journal of natural products
2. Lipids in health and disease
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Bioinformatics and biology insights
5. Planta

Flower

1. Journal of natural products
2. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences
3. Bioinformatics and biology insights
4. Scientific reports

Root

1. Journal of natural products
2. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
3. Planta

Seed

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Chemicals

Viola odorata has 68 reported phytochemicals identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Flavonoids, RUTIN, Saponins, Coumarins, cycloviolacin O2.

Flavonoids

1. Lipids in health and disease
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Scientific reports

RUTIN

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
3. Scientific reports

Saponins

1. Dr. Duke
2. Lipids in health and disease
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Coumarins

1. Lipids in health and disease
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

cycloviolacin O2

1. Journal of natural products
2. Frontiers in plant science

kaempferol

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

methyl salicylate

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

quercetin

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences

2,6-Nonadien-1-ol

1. Dr. Duke

2,6-nonadien-1-al

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Viola odorata has 367 reported activities identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antihypertensive, Cytotoxic, Anticancer, Antimalarial.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Bioinformatics and biology insights
3. Current topics in medicinal chemistry
4. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. Lipids in health and disease
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR
4. Biomolecules

Cytotoxic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology
3. Scientific reports
4. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Anticancer

1. Dr. Duke
2. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology
3. Scientific reports

Antimalarial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
3. Frontiers in bioengineering and biotechnology

Antioxidant

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR
3. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Antipyretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences
3. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]

Diuretic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Brazilian journal of microbiology : [publication of the Brazilian Society for Microbiology]
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Antiinflammatory

1. Dr. Duke
2. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Conditions

Viola odorata has 52 reported investigations on conditions identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include fever, insomnia, cough, dyspnea, headache.

Fever

1. Annales pharmaceutiques francaises
2. Current drug discovery technologies
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Insomnia

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology
2. Avicenna journal of phytomedicine
3. Phytotherapy research : PTR

Cough

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Dyspnea

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Headache

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR
2. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Inflammation

1. Journal of pharmacy & bioallied sciences
2. Scientific reports

Bacillus subtilis

1. Bioinformatics and biology insights

Covid-19

1. Infection and drug resistance

Escherichia coli

1. Bioinformatics and biology insights

Klebsiella pneumoniae

1. Inflammopharmacology

Preparations

Viola odorata has 14 reported preparations identified across 13 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include plant extract, Violet oil, Water and ethanol extracts, alcoholic and hot water extracts, aqueous extract.

Plant extract

1. Lipids in health and disease
2. Biomolecules

Violet oil

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Water and ethanol extracts

1. Bioinformatics and biology insights

Alcoholic and hot water extracts

1. Daru : journal of Faculty of Pharmacy, Tehran University of Medical Sciences

Aqueous extract

1. Pakistan journal of pharmaceutical sciences

Aqueous extracts

1. Turkiye parazitolojii dergisi

Chloroform-soluble extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hexane-soluble extracts

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Hydro-alcoholic extract

1. Iranian journal of pharmaceutical research : IJPR

Leaves and seed extracts

1. Phytotherapy research : PTR