✵The article records the herb Violet Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species: Viola yedoensis Makino—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Violet Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Herba Violae (Violet Herb)
Pinyin Name: Zǐ Huā Dì Dīnɡ
English Name: Violet Herb
Latin Name:Herba Violae Properties and Flavor: Cold, bitter, pungent
Brief Introduction:Herba Violae—the dried aerial parts of Viola yedoensis Makino—is used to clear heat and counteract toxins for the treatment of acute pyogenic infections such as boils, sores, and abscesses, as well as venomous snakebites. It is commonly known as Herba Violae, Violet Herb, or Zǐ Huā Dì Dīng.
Botanical Source:Herba Violae (Violet Herb) is the dried aerial parts of Viola yedoensis Makino, a plant of the genus Viola L., family Violaceae (violet family), order Malpighiales. This commonly used species is described below:
(1) Viola yedoensis Makino.
Botanical Description:Viola yedoensis Makino belongs to the family Violaceae and genus Viola. It is also known as Viola philipica Cav. and Viola confusa Champ. Common names include Ye Jin Cai and Guang Ban Jin Cai.
A perennial herb, growing 4–14 cm tall in vegetative phase and up to over 20 cm in fruiting phase. Rhizomes are short, erect, hazel (pale brown), 4–13 mm long and 2–7 mm in diameter; nodes are dense and bear several rootlets. Leaves are numerous, basal, arranged in a rosette; petioles are 1–2 times longer than leaf blades during anthesis (flowering period), bearing narrow wings; in fruiting phase, petioles may exceed 10 cm in length, with broader wings on the upper portion. Lower leaves are usually smaller, triangular-ovate or narrowly ovate; upper leaves are longer, oblong, narrowly ovate-lanceolate, or oblong-ovate, measuring 1.5–4 cm in length and 0.5–1 cm in width; apex is blunt; base is truncate or cuneate, sometimes slightly cordate; margins are shallowly crenate; both surfaces are glabrous or sparsely covered with short hairs; leaf blades enlarge during fruiting. Stipules are membranous, pale green or pea-green, 2/3–4/5 fused with the petiole; free portion is linear-lanceolate.
Peduncles are usually numerous, slender and weak, equaling or exceeding leaf blade length. Flowers are violet or mauve (lilac), rarely sparsely white; throat is faintly colored with purple stripes. Sepals 5, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate; basal appendages is short; apex is rounded or truncate. Petals 5, obovate or oblong-obovate. Spur (calcar) is slender tubular, 4–8 mm long, apex is rounded. Stamens 5; anthers are ~2 mm long; apical appendage of the septum is ~1.5 mm long. Ovary is ovoid (egg-shaped), glabrous; style is clavate, slightly longer than ovary, base is slightly geniculate; stigma is triangular.
Capsule is oblong, 5–12 mm long, glabrous; seeds are ovoid, ~1.8 mm long, primrose yellow (pale yellow). Flowering and fruiting occur from mid-April to September.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in fields, wastelands, grassy hillsides and mountain slopes, forest margins, and shrublands.
Growth Characteristics:Viola yedoensis Makino prefers warm or cool climates. Waterlogging must be avoided; cultivation is best conducted in well-drained sandy loam or clay loam soils. Low-lying or flood-prone areas are unsuitable.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole herb is often shriveled into a compact mass. Main root (taproot) is oblong-conical, pale yellowish-brown, 1–3 mm in diameter, with fine longitudinal striations. Leaves are celadon (sage green or grayish green); flattened leaves are lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 4–10 cm long and 1–4 cm wide; apex is blunt; base is truncate or slightly cordate; margin is shallowly crenate; both surfaces are pubescent. Petioles bear narrow wings, 2–6 cm long; upper portion shows prominent narrow wings. Scapes (flower stalks) are slender; flowers are mauve (lilac); petal spur is slender tubular. Capsule is elliptic or splitting into three carpels, containing numerous seeds. The herb has a slight odor and tastes slightly bitter and slightly sticky.
Pharmacological Actions: (1) Inhibits growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in vitro and exhibits antiviral activity; (2) Antagonizes endotoxin.
Medicinal efficacy: Clears heat and detoxifies; cools blood and reduces swelling. Indicated for malignant boils and furuncles, carbuncles (ulcers on the back), erysipelas, and venomous snakebites.
Administration of Herba Violae (Zǐ Huā Dì Dīnɡ):
Reference:
Administration Guide for Herba Violae (Zǐ Huā Dì Dīnɡ)
TCM Books:
(1) Internally: 15–30 grams. Externally: fresh herb in appropriate quantity, mashed and applied topically to the affected area. (2) Internally: water decoction, 15–30 grams. External use: fresh herb in appropriate quantity, mashed and applied topically to the affected area.
✵The article records the herb Violet Herb—its English name, Latin name, Pinyin name, properties and flavor, botanical source—a single plant species: Viola yedoensis Makino—and provides a detailed introduction to the botanical features, growth characteristics, and ecological environment of this species, as well as the characteristics of the herb Violet Herb, its pharmacological actions, medicinal efficacy, and administration guidelines.
Pinyin Name: Zǐ Huā Dì Dīnɡ
Botanical Description: Viola yedoensis Makino belongs to the family Violaceae and genus Viola. It is also known as Viola philipica Cav. and Viola confusa Champ. Common names include Ye Jin Cai and Guang Ban Jin Cai.
Peduncles are usually numerous, slender and weak, equaling or exceeding leaf blade length. Flowers are violet or mauve (lilac), rarely sparsely white; throat is faintly colored with purple stripes. Sepals 5, ovate-lanceolate or lanceolate; basal appendages is short; apex is rounded or truncate. Petals 5, obovate or oblong-obovate. Spur (calcar) is slender tubular, 4–8 mm long, apex is rounded. Stamens 5; anthers are ~2 mm long; apical appendage of the septum is ~1.5 mm long. Ovary is ovoid (egg-shaped), glabrous; style is clavate, slightly longer than ovary, base is slightly geniculate; stigma is triangular.
Ecological Environment: The plant grows in fields, wastelands, grassy hillsides and mountain slopes, forest margins, and shrublands.
Characteristics of the Herb: The whole herb is often shriveled into a compact mass. Main root (taproot) is oblong-conical, pale yellowish-brown, 1–3 mm in diameter, with fine longitudinal striations. Leaves are celadon (sage green or grayish green); flattened leaves are lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, 4–10 cm long and 1–4 cm wide; apex is blunt; base is truncate or slightly cordate; margin is shallowly crenate; both surfaces are pubescent. Petioles bear narrow wings, 2–6 cm long; upper portion shows prominent narrow wings. Scapes (flower stalks) are slender; flowers are mauve (lilac); petal spur is slender tubular. Capsule is elliptic or splitting into three carpels, containing numerous seeds. The herb has a slight odor and tastes slightly bitter and slightly sticky.
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