Common dog violet
Viola riviniana
Family · Violaceae · Harmless
The small purple violet that appears on shady northern banks at winter's end. Unlike the scented violet, this one barely smells, and that is what distinguishes it.
Oak woods · Uplands · Roadsides and waste ground · Streams and ditches
Also known asdog violet, wood violet
How to tell it
Heart-shaped long-stalked leaves in a rosette. A blue-purple five-petalled flower with a short pale spur behind, almost white. No noticeable scent.
What it is confused with
Sweet violet
Viola odorata
The nose decides: sweet violet is fragrant, dog violet is not. Both edible, so the mistake is only about scent.
What it is for
The flowers are eaten crystallised or in salad, an old confectionery tradition. The leaves in quantity do not sit well, so it is a plant for decorating a plate, not for a meal.
Traditionally used as food. This is not permission to eat it.