Viola odorata

Viola odorata is a species of the genus Viola native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australasia. It is commonly known as Sweet Violet, English Violet, Common Violet, or Garden Violet. The herb is known as Banafsa, Banafsha or Banaksa in India, where it is commonly used as remedy to cure sore throat and tonsilitis.

Viola odorata is quite similar to other species of violet, but can be distinguished by the following characteristics:

• the flowers have a sweet scent,
• the flowers are normally either dark violet or white,
• the leaves and flowers are all in a basal rosette,
• the style is hooked (and does not end with a rounded appendage),
• the leaf-stalks have hairs which point downwards, and
• the plant spreads with stolons (above-ground shoots).

The species can be found near the edges of forests or in clearings; it is also a common "uninvited guest" in shaded lawns or elsewhere in gardens. The flowers appear as early as February and last until the end of April.

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