DESCRIPTION
Product: Violet Herb (Heartsease)
Latin Name: Viola tricolor
Plant Family: Violaceae
Other Names: Wild Pansy, Johnny Jump Up, Pensée, Banewort, Hearts-Ease, Heart's Delight, Three Faces in a Hood, Love-in-Idleness, Dreifarbiges Veilchen, Pensamiento, Pensiero, Trilliw, Herb Trinity & Gentleman John.
Description: Heartsease is an annual or short lived perennial plant, native to Europe, North Africa and the temperate regions of Asia, it has a creeping nature and reaches a height of 15-40cm. The alternate leaves are bright green in colour and 1-5cm in length, ovate and deeply lobed with crenately toothed edges. The 5-petaled flowers are approximately 1.5-3cm in length, bilaterally symmetric consisting of 2 upper petals, 2 lateral petals and 1 lower petal, the upper petals are dark purple and the lower petals are yellow or creamy at base.
SUGGESTED USE
Heartsease is used in the cosmetics industry as a skin softener and in products that require soothing properties. A tisane can be made from the leaves and flowers and dyes can be obtained giving different shades of green dependant on the mordant used.
SHELF LIFE
Shelf life of two years provided that goods are stored in an airtight container in ambient conditions.
