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 | Violet (Water) Other Names: Water Milfoil. Water Yarrow. Feather Foil.
Botanical Name: Hottonia palustris
Family: N.O. Violaceae |
Description: |
The Water Violet, an aquatic plant, is in no wise related to the familiar Violets and Pansies, but is a member of the Primrose tribe - named after Hotton, an early Leyden professor of Botany.
It is common in ponds and ditches. From the abundance of its finely divided leaves, which are all submersed, it was also called Millefolium by older writers and Water Milfoil, Water Yarrow and Feather Foil popularly. It flowers in May and June, the flowers being large and handsome, pink or pale purple, with a yellow eye, arranged in whorls one above the other around a leafless stalk, which rises several inches out of the water and forms a handsome spike. |
Ancient Lore: |
VIOLET (Water) HOTTONIA PALUSTRIS
Some commend the herb as of great use against the king's-evil.
A perennial aquatic plant, resembling Yarrow, but is a member of the Primrose family. The root is a tuft of long, black and slender fibres which penetrate deep into muddy places. The leaves are beautifully pinnated and the pale lilac flowers with yellow eyes stand in little clusters.
Where to find it: Ponds and ditches.
Flowering time: Early summer.
Astrology: It is governed by Saturn.
Medicinal virtues: The leaves are cooling when externally applied, but they are more used by country people than by physicians. The flowers are considered to be specific against fluor albus and are frequently made into a conserve or decoction for that purpose; but it is a remedy that must be continued for some time. The herb has been commanded for all scrofulous swellings.
Modern uses: It has always been used by those country people familiar with its virtues rather than by professional herbalists or physicians. The plant is fairly common and may deserve re-investigation. Leucorrhoea, a vaginal discharge, is the modern term of fluor albus. For this condition, there are a variety of remedies that can be tried including Marigold flowers, Cranesbill, Witch Hazel, Rasberry leaves and Torrnentil. |
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