Viola canadensis

Viola canadensis is a flowering plant in the Violaceae family. It is commonly known as Canadian white violet, Canada violet, tall white violet, or white violet. It is widespread across much of Canada and the United States, from Alaska to Newfoundland, south as far as Georgia and Arizona. It is a perennial herb and the Latin-specific epithet canadensis means of Canada.

Viola canadensis bears white blooms with yellow bases and sometimes streaks of purple. The petals are purple-tinged on the backside. The leaves are heart-shaped, with coarse, rounded teeth.

Subspecies and varieties

• Viola canadensis var. canadensis
• Viola canadensis subsp. canadensis
• Viola canadensis var. rugulosa (Greene) C.L. Hitchc.
• Viola canadensis subsp. scopulorum (A. Gray) House

Conservation status in the United States

It is listed as endangered in Illinois, Maine, and New Jersey, as threatened in Connecticut, and having a historical range in Rhode Island.

Uses

The leaves and blossoms are edible. The latter can be used to make jelly.

The South Ojibwa use a decoction of the root for pains near the bladder.

External links

• photo of herbarium specimen at Missouri Botanical Garden, collected in New Mexico in 1897, isotype of Viola neo-mexicana/Viola neomexicana, syn of Viola canadensis

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