Valeriana capitata : Mountain Valerian

Scientific Name:

Kingdom: Plantae

Division:

• Tracheophyta (vascular)
• Spermatophyta (seed bearing)
Angiospermae (enclosed seed)

Class: Dicoteldonae (two seed-leaves)

Family: Valerianaceae (Valerian Family)

Genera: Valeriana (Valerian) (Named for the old Roman province of Valeria where these plants were common. )

Species: capitata (Lat. caput = head; referring to the dense head-like flower clusters)

English Name(s):

Mountain Valerian, Wild/Mountain/Capitate Valerian/Helitrope

First Nation Names:

Structure:

• Plants 15-65(100)cm tall from simple or branching rhizomes (underground stems).
• Stems single, usually with 2-3 leaf nodes below the bracts of the flower cluster.

Leaves:

• Cauline leaves (stem leaves) opposite 30-55mm long by 15mm wide, sessile (not stalked). Blade narrowly laciniate but not divided.
• Basal leaves slender-petioled (stalked), with an oval or cordate blade with entire (smooth) margins.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescence (flower cluster) densely capitate (headlike) in flower, 15-35mm wide, opening into a diffuse panicle in fruit.
• Bractlets of inflorescence (flower clusters) large, ciliate (hairs on edges).
• Flowers perfect (bisexual), more or less irregular in symmetry.
• Corrola (petals) pink to white, 4-7mm long, hairless on outside, narrowly funnel-shaped.

Seed:

• Fruit small, dry, flattened achenes, 1-nerved on one side and 3-nerved on the other.
• Achenes 3-4mm long.

Not to Be Confused With:

• Valeriana sitchensis which can be distinguished by its pinnate leaves and its glabrous

Physiology:

• The roots of Valeriana species all have a characteristic "dirty sock smell", due to the presence of isovaleric acid.

Life Cycle:

• Perennial

Seasonal Cycle:

• Deciduous from rhizomes (underground stems).
• Blooms until mid-July.
• Mostly gone to seed by 3rd week of July.

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Moist turfy woodland bogs, tundra, heathlands, along streams, and in river flats.

Modern:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

• Oil of valerian is depressing to the central nervous system and is prescribed by some physicians as a remedy for hysteria, hypochondria, nervous unrest and insomnia.
• Roots dried and ground and steeped in hot water are recommended as a substitute for modern day Valium. Raw roots are considered poisonous!

Food:

Traditional Gwich'in:

Folklore:

Industrial:

Medicinal:

Food:

Traditional Other:

Folklore:

• According to the Victorian Language of Flowers, Valerian symbolized an accommodating disposition.

Industrial:

• Oil of valerian is said to attract rats and was used by rat catchers to bait thier traps.

Medicinal:

• Juice of the fresh root was used as a narcotic in insomnia as an anti-convulsant in epilepsy and as a means of slowing the heart and increasing its force in the treatment of heart palpitations
• Oil of valerian can be used to prepare a soothing bath, or as a soap perfumery.

Food: