"Roses are Red, Violets are Blue" . . . well, sometimes

Pennsylvania's flora includes 29 species of the genus Viola, generally referred to as violets. Although the flowers of many violet species are some variation of the color blue, several species, including common ones, are some other color. Our native violet species range in color from pale blue to purple to lavendar, but there are also white-flowered species, while others sport bright yellow flowers. Regardless of the color, violets can be recognized by the rather distinctive irregular shape of the 5-petal flower, with 2 upper and 3 lower (often veined) petals. Violet leaves are often heart-shaped, but not always, and some are distinctly lobed.

The different species of violets utilize many types of habitats, from open, dry and hot, to very wet, cool and shaded. A few violet species are included on the list of Pennsylvania Plants of Special Concern, because they are rare or endangered.

All of our native violets are edible. Both the young leaves and flowers, which are rich in Vitamins A and C (ascorbic acid), can be used to dress up a mixed salad, which is sure to impress your dinner guests. Limited collecting of flowers and leaves for occasional salads will not damage a violet colony, and it is very unlikely that you will encounter an endangered violet species during your wild edible collecting, so that issue should not be of concern. Just be certain violets are being collected and not some other similar plant. Never pick any wild plant to eat unless you are positive of its identity.

Today's photo of sweet white violet (Viola blanda Willd.) was taken in the Indian Creek Gorge, Fayette County, where WPC has been engaged in protection efforts for some time, including the acquisition of the Indian Creek Railroad right-of-way. The photographer is naturalist and WPC volunteer, Mark Bowers.

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