25-02-2021, 12:52 AM
Just so you know, the species of Viola included in the VMS is not the one usually included in early plant books (Roman and medieval). It's quite well drawn. It captures the posture of the plant and the leaves quite well.
Most of the time, in Medieval plant books, they recommended Viola odorata (a lower-growing plant with rounder leaves) because it was considered the best for medicinal use.
Viola tricolor and its lookalikes (those with an upright growth habit and deeply serrated, palmate leaves) weren't commonly documented until the 17th and 18th centuries. There are only a few from the 16th century (e.g., Dodoens).
The Trinity herbal has one labeled Viola agrestis, but the drawing doesn't look like Viola tricolor. It might be Viola calcarata or one of the other varieties that grow lower to the ground and have more elliptical leaves.
So, you may have trouble finding text to match the VMS Viola, unless you want to use Dodoens from the 16th century.
Most of the time, in Medieval plant books, they recommended Viola odorata (a lower-growing plant with rounder leaves) because it was considered the best for medicinal use.
Viola tricolor and its lookalikes (those with an upright growth habit and deeply serrated, palmate leaves) weren't commonly documented until the 17th and 18th centuries. There are only a few from the 16th century (e.g., Dodoens).
The Trinity herbal has one labeled Viola agrestis, but the drawing doesn't look like Viola tricolor. It might be Viola calcarata or one of the other varieties that grow lower to the ground and have more elliptical leaves.
So, you may have trouble finding text to match the VMS Viola, unless you want to use Dodoens from the 16th century.
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