What is "viola odorata"

Violet \Vi"o*let\, n. [F. violette a violet (cf. violet violet-colored), dim. of OF. viole a violet, L. viola; akin to Gr. ?. Cf. Iodine.]

1. (Bot.) Any plant or flower of the genus Viola, of many species. The violets are generally low, herbaceous plants, and the flowers of many of the species are blue, while others are white or yellow, or of several colors, as the pansy ( Viola tricolor).

   Note: The cultivated sweet violet is Viola odorata of Europe. The common blue violet of the eastern United States is Viola cucullata; the sand, or bird-foot, violet is Viola pedata.

2. The color of a violet, or that part of the spectrum farthest from red. It is the most refrangible part of the spectrum.

3. In art, a color produced by a combination of red and blue in equal proportions; a bluish purple color.
   --Mollett.

4. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of small violet-colored butterflies belonging to Lyc[ae]na, or Rusticus, and allied genera.

   Corn violet. See under Corn.

   Dame's violet. (Bot.) See Damewort.

   Dogtooth violet. (Bot.) See under Dogtooth.

   Water violet (Bot.), an aquatic European herb ( Hottonia palustris) with pale purplish flowers and pinnatifid leaves.

Viola odorata is a species of the genus Viola native to Europe and Asia, but has also been introduced to North America and Australia. It is commonly known as wood violet, sweet violet, English violet, common violet, florist's violet, or garden violet. The plant is known as Banafsa, Banafsha or Banaksa in India. It is a hardy herbaceous flowering perennial.