Viola japonica
Family: Violaceae
What it is like
A herb. It keeps growing from year to year. It does not have a stem but forms a ring. It has a short rhizome. There are many leaves at the base. They are triangle shaped or oval and 3-8 cm long by 4-5 cm wide.
There are about 500 Viola species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. It can grow in sunny places of lightly shaded places in the lowlands below 1,100 m above sea level. In Sichuan.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, China, Japan, Korea, Slovenia
How it is used for food
The roots are chopped and mixed with yam starch to make a soup.
Edible parts
Flowers, leaves, root
How it is grown
Its other names
Local names
Japonska vijolica, Ko-sumire