Viola arcuata

Family: Violaceae

What it is like

A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It has a rhizome about 2 mm across with many fine roots. It produces stolons. The stems are in groups and 35 cm tall. The stolons are flexible and 40 cm long. The leaves at the base have long leaf stalks. The leaves are triangle or heart shaped and 2-3 cm long by 2-6 cm wide. There are some teeth along the edge. The flowers are light purplish or white. The fruit is a capsule 6-8 mm long and 3 mm across.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It grows in moist and marshy places. It is usually at lower elevations but can be up to 3,000 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Northeastern India, Papua New Guinea, Russia, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

How it is used for food

The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. Thye are boiled with rice.

It is sold in local markets in China.

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Eveikoreio, Tim trungbo, Xiao litou

Synonyms

Viola alata Burgersd.; Viola alata subsp. verecunda (A. Gray) W. Becker; Viola amurica W. Becker; Viola distans Wall.; Viola excisa Hance; Viola hupeiana W. Becker; Viola verecunda A. Gray;