The pansy is a member of the genus Viola – it is closely related to the violet and of the species Viola tricolor. Its common name is derived from the French word “pensée” meaning “thought” because the petals of the flower can resemble a human face that nods downward in contemplation.
Our concept of food runs the gamut from roots to genetically engineered food. While some may consider one more appetizing than the other, there is a clear boundary between edible and poisonous. So when a friend of mine loved his meal so much while dining out that he decided to finish off the plate by eating the decorative flowers, it got me thinking about our concept of edible. Yes, flowers are edible. But how often do we make a stop at the grocery store for some marigolds or pick up pansies for dinner?