Valeriana sitchensis :

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: sitchensis

English Name(s):

,

First Nation Names:

• Stems 40-100 cm high, erect, from a stout rhizomes (underground stem).

Leaves:

• Basal leaves simple or with 3-5 lobes or absent.
• Cauline (stem leaves) in 2-4 pairs, 3-5 pinnate or pinnatified; leaflets broadly ovate to lanceolate.

Reproductive Parts:

• Inflorescence (flower cluster) compact in flower spreading in fruit.
• Flowers perfect (bisexual), more or less irregular in symmetry.
• Corolla (petals) 5-7mm long, white.

Seed:

• Fruit small, dry, flattened achenes, 1-nerved on one side and 3-nerved on the other.
• Achenes 3-6mm long

Not to Be Confused With:

• Valeriana capitata (Northern Valerian) which can be distinguished by its glabrous (no hairs) inflorescence bractlet margins and its simple not pinnate leaves.

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).

Animal Uses:

Habitat:

• Moist non-calcareous alpine and subalpine meadows.

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: