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Valerianaceae: Valerian Family Plant Identification Characteristics.

Valerianaceae
Plants of the Valerian Family

      North American members of this family have small flowers in clusters. The flowers can be bisexual or unisexual, regular or slightly irregular. The sepals are inconspicuous. There are 5 united petals, often with a spur at the base of the flower. There are 1 to 4 stamens. The ovary is positioned inferior and consists of 3 united carpels (tricarpellate) but aborts two, forming just 1 chamber. It produces an achene (a dry seed). Worldwide, there are 13 genera and 400 species. Three genera are found in North America. Red valerian (Centranthus) is cultivated.

Key Words: Plants with basal and opposite leaves.
Small flowers with tiny spurs. Roots with pungent aroma.

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Valeriana sp. Valerian.

Valeriana sp. Valerian. Absaroka Mountains. Near Livingston, Montana.

Valeriana sitchensis. Tobacco Root.

Valeriana sitchensis. Tobacco Root.

Valeriana sitchensis. Tobacco Root.

Valeriana sitchensis. Tobacco Root.

Valeriana sitchensis. Tobacco Root.

Valeriana sitchensis. Tobacco Root.

Foraging the Mountain West
Foraging the Mountain West		Valeriana arizonica. Arizona Valerian.

Valeriana arizonica. Arizona Valerian. Chiricahua Mountains. Near Portal, Arizona.

There are more
Valerian Family pictures
at PlantSystematics.org.

Botany in a Day: The Patterns Method of Plant Identification
Identify plants with
Botany in a Day		 Foraging the Mountain West
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Foraging the Mountain West

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