Online Articles
about nature - by Boyd
Shaffer,
artist /naturalist
Observations
of a Naturalist
This Article: Heartsease - Mother Nature's vitamin pill.
|
Throughout much of Northern Europe, wild pansies (Viola tricolor) are known by their old medicinal name, Heartsease . In the horticulture community they are known as Pansy if the flowers are large, Viola if they are the size of the wild form, or smaller. But to the Botanist they are all Viola tricolor. To use just the Generic name, Viola, does not tell us whether they are Pansies or Violets which are all in the genus Viola. All of these plants are edible and loaded with vitamins and minerals. It has been said that any member of the Genus Viola is Mother Nature's Vitamin Pill. Use them in salads, or to garnish desserts. They are a beautiful way to decorate a special cake. They also make a special dress-up in a Jell-O salad. Just carefully submerge them and let it chill. To let them wilt in the garden is a waste! -End |