Pansy – Wild
|
Botanical Name |
Viola tricolour |
|
Family |
Violaceae |
|
Other Names |
Garden gate, garden violet, heartsease, Johnny jump in, love in idleness, stepmother |
|
Habitat |
Waste grounds, fields, hedges |
|
Description |
Annual/perennial up 20 30cm/1ft leafy stem Leaves alternate Flowers yellow – purple 15mm/½in across. May – September |
|
Native to |
Britain, Europe |
|
Parts used |
Aerial parts |
|
Cultivation |
Shelter from wind |
|
Harvesting |
March – august |
|
Actions |
Anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatic, diuretic, expectorant, laxative |
|
Constituents |
Salicylates, saponins, alkaloid, tannin, mucilage Flavonoids –violanthin, vitexin, vicinine 2, saponarine, scoparin, violanthin, rutin Methylsalicylate |
|
Combines with |
Nettles, cleaves, clover red, couchgrass, buchu |
|
Culinary uses |
Salads, fitters |
|
Skin |
Eczema |
|
Circulatory, muscle joint |
Heart tonic |
|
Respiratory |
Whooping cough, bronchitis |
|
Genito-urinary |
Cystitis |
|
Other Notes |
Tea made the flowers its sad to cure a broken heart The name pansy comes from the French “pensee” meaning thought or remembrance Folklore states to pick pansies with dew on them will cause a love one to die It is sacred to St Valentine and to lovers |
|
Caution |
Do not take large doses internally |