Thicket/ Strap-leaved Violet

COMMON NAME: Strap-Leaved Violet

OTHER COMMON NAME(S): Water Violet

SCIENTIFIC NAME: Viola lanceolata

FAMILY: Violaceae

COMMUNITY: Thicket

STATUS: Native   

LIFESPAN: Perennial

HEIGHT: 4 to 6 inches

FLOWERING TIME: April to June

FRUITING TIME: Early September to October

DISTRIBUTION: Maine to Florida, west to Minnesota ~ Statewide in New Jersey

IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS: Slender creeping, rhizomes and in summer many creeping stolons ~ Leaves, long, narrow (3 ½ to 6 times as long as wide) ~ Flowers on erect stems, greenish yellow, 5 petals ~ Seeds brown

GENERAL INFORMATION: This family (Violaceae) commonly called the Violet Family consists of 23 genera and 830 species of herbs, shrubs, lianas and small trees.  Some species are cultivated for their oils which are used in flavorings and to make scents. The species name of Strap-Leaved Violet (lanceolata) refers to the lance shape of the leaves. Strap-leaved Violet is found in moist, open, sandy or peaty ground or in shallow water of sunny streamsides, swamps and bogs. Sweet Violets (Viola odorata) are cultivated, mainly in the south of France, for their essential oil, which is used in flavoring and to make scents: 100 kilograms of flowers are required to yield 30 grams of oil. Violets are edible as salad, cooked green, soup thickener, tea, or candy.  The young tender leaves can be added to salad or boiled to make a palatable cooked green or added to soups as an okralike thickener. Violet leafs are somewhat bland and are best mixed with other greens.  The dried leaves can be used to make tea.  The flowers can be candied.  The leaves of violets are rich in vitamins A and C.

Please note: While harvesting wild berries/fruit is permitted at Island Beach State Park, visitors must adhere to park regulations at all times and must not damage vegetation or go off designated trails.  This information is presented for educational purposes.