Violets

In spring, the leaves and young shoots of violets may be eaten in salads or soup or as a cooked vegetable. Syrup, candy and vinegar are made from the flowers. Canada violet is the species used most often for medicinal purposes, even though the other violets have essentially the same effects. The entire plant is used to calm coughs, colds, bronchitis, etc. The flowers are used to relieve rheumatism and skin disorders, including eczema. There are even claims that various types of cancer have been cured with violet leaf treatments. Garden pansies are varieties of a European violet, Viola tricolor. Violets were the symbol of the Bonapartists and of Napoleon, who was nicknamed 'Captain violet'.