Bird's foot violet, Pansy violet, Wild okra
Viola pedata
Family: Violaceae
What it is like
A stemless plant. It grows 10-15 cm high and spreads 20-40 cm wide. It spreads by runners. The leaves have 5 narrow lobes spread out like fingers on a hand. The flowers are 30 mm wide and have spurs. The petals are downy. The flowers are blue. The upper petals and veins are darker.
There are about 500 Viola species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It suits hardiness zones 4-9.
Countries/locations it is found in
Australia, North America, USA
How it is used for food
Young leaves are added to salads. They can also be boiled or steamed and added to soups as a thickener. The dried leaves are made into tea. The flowers can be candied.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, leaves - tea