Viola diffusa
Family: Violaceae
What it is like
A herb. It grows each year from seed. It has white hairs. It has stolons or runners with a ring of leaves at the end. The leaves are 2-4 cm long by 1-2 cm wide. The flowers are yellow or purple.
There are about 500 Viola species.
Where it is found
It is a tropical plant. It grows on the edges of mountain forests and by streams in valleys below 2,000 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Bhutan, China, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Myanmar, Nepal, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, SE Asia, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Vietnam
How it is used for food
The leaves are cooked and eaten as a vegetable.
It is sold in local markets in China.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, leaves - tea
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Hoa-tim tranlan, Ren shen cao