Interesting Facts About Violas
Violas, pansies and sweet violets are very closely related and all are classified as violas. Sweet violets grew wild in Europe and were later cultivated. Pansies were developed from mountain pansies and Johnny-Jump-Ups. The plants we now call violas were hybridized from pansies and horned violets. Does this Spark an idea?
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History
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Sweet violets have been cultivated since 500 BC or earlier by the Greeks and later by the Romans. Both cultures used them as herbs, medicines, sweeteners and for ornamental purposes.
Cultural Significance
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Sweet violets were a symbol of love and fertility and were used to make love potions. Wearing garlands of violets was believed to prevent headaches and dizziness.
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African Violets
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The genus Saintpaulia includes African violets, one of six species in the genus. Although their appearance is similar, African violets have little relationship to the Viola genus.
Medicines
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Viola odorata has a long history of medicinal and herbal uses. It contains salicylic acid, a compound used in making aspirin, which makes it effective as pain reliever and anti-inflammatory.
State Flowers
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The blue violet -- Viola sororia -- is the state flower in Illinois and New Jersey. In Wisconsin, the wood violet -- Viola papilionacea -- was chosen by schoolchildren as the state flower on arbor day in 1909. Schoolchildren also chose the Early Blue Violet -- Viola palmata -- as the Rhode Island state flower in 1897, but it was not officially adopted until 1968.
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