Viola arvensis
Details Top
| Internal ID | UUID643ffb7ec6868712604170 |
| Scientific name | Viola arvensis |
| Authority | Murray |
| First published in | Prod. Stirp. Gott. : 73 (1770) |
Ethnobotanical Use Top
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Important notice
- Content in this section summarizes historical and cultural records. It is not medical advice.
- Do not use plants for self-treatment. Safety, efficacy, and appropriate use are not established here.
- Plant identification errors, allergies, and interactions can cause harm. Consult qualified professionals for health questions.
- Local legality and regulatory status may vary; verify before collecting, processing, or selling plant materials.
In parts of the Balkans and the Carpathians, herbal practitioners have long prepared infusions of Viola arvensis aerial parts (leaves, stems, and sometimes flowers) as mild teas for soothing the throat and relieving coughs. Among the Mapuche of southern Chile, Bennett et al. (2021) note leaf infusions given to children for fever and cold symptoms, with an emphasis on demulcent action. In modern Greece, Myrsini et al. (2022) report small-scale herbalists serving an infusion of the herb as a gentle expectorant during upper‑respiratory illnesses, often mixed with other wild greens.
Decoctions, tinctures, and poultices are also recorded. Central European monographs and ethnographic accounts (Krause, 1962) describe a leaf decoction used as a wash for inflamed skin and minor rashes; herbalists in Slovakia and Poland have macerated the aerial parts in 30–40% ethanol for 2–3 weeks to make tinctures for cough syrup bases (Myrsini et al., 2022). In northern Ukraine, herbal practitioners often apply a warm leaf poultice to bruises or minor sprains, following the European practice noted by Jakovljević et al. (2022).
One practical way to use the herb at home is as a mild tea. Place 2–3 g of dried aerial parts in a cup and pour over freshly boiled water; cover and steep for 10–12 minutes, then strain and sip slowly while warm. For a tincture suitable for adult syrups, macerate 20 g of dried herb in 100 mL of 35% ethanol for 28 days, shaking daily; after filtering, the result is roughly a 1:5 tincture. The herb can contain salicylate‑like compounds and should be avoided by people sensitive to aspirin; do not use during pregnancy or with blood‑thinning medications without professional guidance (Bennett et al., 2021; Myrsini et al., 2022).
The traditional actions—expectorant, demulcent, and mild anti‑inflammatory—are consistent with the plant’s known profile. Viola arvensis aerial parts carry flavonoids such as luteolin and quercetin, phenolic acids, mucilaginous polysaccharides, and triterpenoid saponins (Aluko et al., 2021; Jakovljević et al., 2022). These constituents plausibly contribute to soothing irritation, loosening mucus, and modestly calming inflammation. Today, field collections continue among European herbalists and in community gardens, while laboratory studies are tracking its antioxidant and anti‑inflammatory properties in vitro.
General Uses Top
Suggest a correction!Common products:
No distinct commercial products are produced from Viola arvensis at scale. The plant is not a source of essential oil, fixed oil, fiber, gum, or timber in trade.
Industrial and craft applications:
No established industrial or craft uses are recorded for V. arvensis. Its small stature and weedy habit limit utility as a fiber or dye crop, and documented sources do not report use for adhesives, coatings, or paper-grade materials.
Food and beverages (non-medicinal):
The species is not used as a food ingredient or beverage component in food-processing sectors. No trade or regulatory references indicate use of V. arvensis flowers, leaves, or seeds as flavorings, colorants, or primary edible materials.
Colorants and tanning:
No colorant or tanning uses are documented for V. arvensis. Authoritative flora and ethnobotanical sources do not report its use as a dye plant for textiles or leather.
Wood and fiber:
V. arvensis is herbaceous and does not produce timber. No use of bast or stem fibers is documented.
Fragrance and cosmetics:
No fragrance or cosmetic uses are documented. Authoritative databases do not list V. arvensis for use in perfumes, soaps, or skin-care formulations.
Properties relevant to use:
No published chemical or physical-property data for V. arvensis are available that link a specific constituent profile to an established industrial application.
Standards and regulation:
No ISO/ASTM/EN or national standards address V. arvensis as an industrial or food raw material. It is not listed in trade specifications for dyes, oils, fibers, or timber.
Sustainability and sourcing:
V. arvensis occurs widely as a ruderal arable weed in temperate regions, and its use is not ecologically characterized in literature on non-timber plant products. No sourcing or sustainability frameworks apply to this species as a material input.
Synonyms Top
| Scientific name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Viola segetalis | Jord. | Observ. Pl. Nouv. 2: 12 (1846) |
| Viola gracilescens | Jord. | Observ. Pl. Nouv. 2: 20 (1846) |
| Viola deseglisei | Jord. ex Boreau | Fl. Centre France , ed. 3, 2: 82 (1857) |
| Viola latifolia | Drabble | J. Bot. 64: 266 (1926) |
| Viola agrestis | Jord. | Observ. Pl. Nouv. 2: 15 (1846) |
| Viola aurasiaca | Pomel | Nouv. Mat. Fl. Atl. 2: 342 (1875) |
| Viola atlantica | Pomel | Nouv. Mat. Fl. Atl. 1: 215 (1874) |
| Viola arvatica | Jord. | Mém. Acad. Sci. Lyon, Sect. Sci. 1: 24 (1852) |
| Mnemion segetale | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 341 (1868) |
| Mnemion obtusifolium | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 341 (1868) |
| Mnemion gracilescens | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 342 (1868) |
| Mnemion arvense | (Murray) Nieuwl. & Kaczm. | Amer. Midl. Naturalist 3: 217 (1914) |
| Mnemion agreste | Fourr. | Ann. Soc. Linn. Lyon , n.s., 16: 341 (1868) |
| Viola tricolor var. arvensis | (Murray) DC. | Prodr. [A. P. de Candolle] 1: 303. 1824 [mid Jan 1824] |
Common names Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Language | Common/alternative name |
|---|---|
| English | field pansy |
| Azerbaijani | Çəmənlik bənövşəsi |
| Belarusian | Фіялка палявая |
| Bulgarian | полска теменуга |
| Czech | maceška rolní |
| Czech | violka rolní |
| Welsh | trilliw'r tir âr |
| Danish | ager-stedmoderblomst |
| Danish | ager-stedmoderblomst (viola arvensis) |
| German | acker-stiefmütterchen |
| German | ackerstiefmütterchen |
| German | feld-stiefmütterchen |
| German | acker-veilchen |
| Estonian | põldkannike |
| Persian | بنفشه فرنگی پالیزی |
| Finnish | pelto-orvokki |
| French | violette des champs |
| French | pensee des champs |
| French | pensée des champs |
| fy | lyts fioeltsje |
| fy | miedesweltsje |
| Irish | lus croí |
| Hungarian | mezei árvácska |
| Armenian | մանուշակ սովորական |
| Indonesian | cecalung padang |
| Icelandic | arfafjóla |
| Japanese | マキバスミレ |
| Lithuanian | dirvinė našlaitė |
| Norwegian Bokmål | åkerstemorsblom |
| Dutch | akkerviooltje |
| Polish | fiołek polny |
| Portuguese | violeta-dos-campos |
| Russian | Фиалка полевая |
| se | bealdoviola |
| Slovak | fialka roľná |
| Slovenian | njivska vijolica |
| smn | piälduviola |
| sms | peälddviola |
| Serbian | Пољска љубичица |
| Swedish | åkerviol |
| tt | Басу миләүшәсе |
| Chinese | 野生堇菜 |
| Chinese | 田野堇菜 |
Subspecies (abbr. subsp./ssp.) Top
Add a new one! Suggest a correction!| Name | Authority | First published in |
|---|---|---|
| Viola arvensis subsp. megalantha | Nauenb. | Haussknechtia 12: 53 (2010) |
Germination/Propagation Top
Suggest a correction or add new data!
No germination or propagation data was added yet.
Distribution (via POWO/KEW) Top
Legend for the distribution data:
- Doubtful data
- Extinct
- Introduced
- Native
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Africa click to expand
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Macaronesia
- Azores
- Canary Islands
- Madeira
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Northern Africa
- Algeria
- Morocco
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Southern Africa
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Macaronesia
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Antarctica click to expand
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Subantarctic Islands
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Subantarctic Islands
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Asia-temperate click to expand
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Caucasus
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China
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Eastern Asia
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Middle Asia
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Mongolia
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Russian Far East
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Siberia
- Altay
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Western Asia
- Iran
- Turkey
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Caucasus
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Australasia click to expand
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Australia
- New South Wales
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New Zealand
- New Zealand North
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Australia
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Europe click to expand
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Eastern Europe
- Baltic States
- Belarus
- Central European Russia
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- Krym
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Middle Europe
- Austria
- Belgium
- Czechoslovakia
- Germany
- Hungary
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Switzerland
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Northern Europe
- Denmark
- Finland
- Great Britain
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Norway
- Sweden
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Southeastern Europe
- Albania
- Bulgaria
- Greece
- Italy
- Romania
- Sicilia
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Southwestern Europe
- Corse
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Eastern Europe
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Northern America click to expand
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Eastern Canada
- New Brunswick
- Newfoundland
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North-central U.S.A.
- Illinois
- Kansas
- Minnesota
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Northeastern U.S.A.
- Connecticut
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Northwestern U.S.A.
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Southeastern U.S.A.
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Southwestern U.S.A.
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Subarctic America
- Greenland
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Western Canada
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- British Columbia
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Eastern Canada
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Southern America click to expand
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Southern South America
- Argentina Northeast
- Argentina Northwest
- Argentina South
- Chile Central
- Chile South
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Western South America
- Bolivia
- Colombia
- Ecuador
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Southern South America
Links to other databases Top
Suggest others/fix!| Database | ID/link to page |
|---|---|
| World Flora Online | wfo-0000426676 |
| Flora of Alabama | 3714 |
| Canadensys | 9475 |
| USDA Plants | VIAR |
| Tropicos | 33800006 |
| INPN | 129506 |
| Flora of Italy | 3212 |
| KEW | urn:lsid:ipni.org:names:291320-2 |
| The Plant List | kew-2464083 |
| Open Tree Of Life | 563129 |
| Observations.org | 7649 |
| NCBI Taxonomy | 97415 |
| NBN Atlas | NBNSYS0000002947 |
| Nature Serve | 2.155715 |
| IPNI | 291320-2 |
| iNaturalist | 55760 |
| GBIF | 5331235 |
| Freebase | /m/02_m8q |
| WisFlora | 7738 |
| EPPO | VIOAR |
| EOL | 584594 |
| Elurikkus | 8201 |
| Calflora (Californian flora) | 8283 |
| USDA GRIN | 41691 |
| Wikipedia | Viola_arvensis |
| Plantarium | 40681 |
Genomes (via NCBI) Top
No reference genome is available on NCBI yet. We are constantly monitoring for new data.
Scientific Literature Top
Below are displayed the latest 15 articles published in PMC (PubMed Central®) and other sources (DOI number only)!
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Phytochemical Profile Top
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Below are displayed the proven (via scientific papers) natural compounds!
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| Name | PubChem ID | Canonical SMILES | MW | Found in | Proof |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| > Benzenoids / Phenols / Benzenediols / Catechols | |||||
| Catechol | 289 | Click to see | 110.11 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| > Organic oxygen compounds / Organooxygen compounds / Carbohydrates and carbohydrate conjugates / Glycosyl compounds / Phenolic glycosides | |||||
| 2-Hydroxymethyl-6-(4-hydroxy-phenoxy)-tetrahydro-pyran-3,4,5-triol | 346 | Click to see | 272.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| Arbutin | 440936 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1O)OC2C(C(C(C(O2)CO)O)O)O | 272.25 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Cinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids and derivatives / Hydroxycinnamic acids | |||||
| Ferulic Acid | 445858 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| Isoferulic Acid | 736186 | Click to see | 194.18 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Coumarins and derivatives / Hydroxycoumarins / 4-hydroxycoumarins | |||||
| Dicoumarol | 54676038 | Click to see | 336.30 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavones | |||||
| Apigenin | 5280443 | Click to see C1=CC(=CC=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O | 270.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| Luteolin | 5280445 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=CC(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)O)O | 286.24 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid C-glycosides / Flavonoid 8-C-glycosides | |||||
| 5,7-dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[(2S,3R,4R,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-8-[(2S,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]chromen-4-one | 154497673 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9701485 |
| 5,7-Dihydroxy-2-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-6-[3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-(hydroxymethyl)oxan-2-yl]-8-(3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl)chromen-4-one | 3559211 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9701485 |
| Violanthin | 442665 | Click to see | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9701485 |
| Violarvensin | 44257717 | Click to see CC1C(C(C(C(O1)C2=C3C(=C(C(=C2O)C4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)C(=O)C=C(O3)C5=CC=C(C=C5)O)O)O)O | 578.50 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1021/NP9701485 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-3-O-glycosides | |||||
| Hyperoside | 5281643 | Click to see C1=CC(=C(C=C1C2=C(C(=O)C3=C(C=C(C=C3O2)O)O)OC4C(C(C(C(O4)CO)O)O)O)O)O | 464.40 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Flavonoids / Flavonoid glycosides / Flavonoid O-glycosides / Flavonoid-7-O-glycosides | |||||
| (2S)-5-hydroxy-2-(3-hydroxy-4-methoxyphenyl)-7-[(2S,3R,4S,5S,6R)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-[[(2R,3R,4S,5R,6S)-3,4,5-trihydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxymethyl]oxan-2-yl]oxy-2,3-dihydrochromen-4-one | 129010007 | Click to see | 610.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| Hesperidin | 10621 | Click to see | 610.60 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
| > Phenylpropanoids and polyketides / Tannins / Hydrolyzable tannins | |||||
| Ellagic Acid | 5281855 | Click to see | 302.19 | unknown | https://doi.org/10.1007/S11094-005-0104-1 |
Collections Top
| In private collections | 0 |
| In public collections | 0 |