01.
A Bit of Botany
a little botanical information on valerian
description
Valerian officinalis, is an herbaceous perennial of the Valerianaceae family.
The plant typically reaches heights of 3-5 feet, and sometimes as high as 6 feet, though less frequently.
Valerian's distinctive attributes include a clump of deeply lobed basal foliage from which rise tall, slender, sparsely-leaved stems.
In the summer months of June and July these stems are topped by highly fragrant blossoms. These salverform flowers, present in white to pale pink
and are in branched panicles (cymes to 2-4" wide).
Leaves are odd-pinnate,
with each leaf having 7-10 pairs of toothed, lance-shaped
leaflets. The entire plant is redolent: leaves are aromatic when bruised; and roots also have a strong scent.
Both valerian root and valerian leaves are a cat attractant similar to catnip.
common names & nomenclature
Genus name comes from the Latin valere, meaning "to be strong and healthy", though other
accounts say its moniker was derived from the personal name Valerius.
Also known as:
valerian, garden valerian, garden heliotrope, all-heal