Dance of the Violets

As a distinguished member of the Violaceae family, the violet (Viola spp.) shares it's roots with few relatives. In fact, its only cousins are pansies and garden violas. While the genus Viola numbers more than 500 in species, the number of hybrid varieties probably outnumber the pure ones. Much loved by various cultures throughout the world, the essential violet, Viola odorata, has been widely cultivated for more than 2,000 years.

This highly aromatic and ornamental herb has enjoyed a long association with romance, fertility, and occasions for joyous celebration. The Romans welcomed the arrival of spring by scattering violet petals and leaves in banquet halls and with the partaking of Violetum, a sweet wine formulated by the gourmet Apicius.

The ancient Greeks made the violet the official symbol of Athens. Legend has it that Zeus protected his lover, the goddess Io, from the jealous Hera by turning his love into a heifer and allowing her to graze unseen upon a meadow of sweet violets.

In 13th century France, troubadours were bestowed with great cascades of violets in appreciation of their poetic achievements. Napole`on Bonaparte made the violet his "signature flower." It became the emblem of his political party, and a symbol of everlasting love between he and his first wife, Josephine. Josephine reputedly honored her husband by scattering violet petals on his final resting place.

Medicinally, the violet has been employed to remedy a variety of ailments. The Romans believed wearing a band of violets about the head would ensure sobriety during festivals and would deter "morning after" unpleasantness. (One wonders if this prevention arose out of necessity from the habitual imbibing of too much violet wine!) Preparations formulated from violets to ease hangover pangs are still popular in France today. Pliny recommended violet water for gout and spleen disorders. The leaves and flowers are reputed to have an expectorant quality and "Violet Plate," a violet sugar or conserve, was a popular ingredient in 17th century throat lozenges and cough syrups. For centuries, violets have been used to treat fever and headache, and in China today to treat abscesses and as a poultice for inflammation. The results were likely effective since the plant contains an aspirin-like substance known as methyl salicylate. The flowers are still used today to tint certain medications.

Victorian nosegays and "strewing" potpourri of the 18th century usually included violets due to their soporific effect. Although fresh violets are highly fragrant when first cut, their very scent, as well as undesirable odors that may be present at the time, become less noticeable very quickly. Shakespeare's Laertes made reference to this mysterious quality when he said: "A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent; sweet, not lasting. The perfume and suppliance of a minute. No more." Great quantities of the sweet violets are commercially grown in France and Italy today for the perfume industry. It takes more than 2 million flowers to produce a single pound of the essential oil!

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