Valeriana officinalis (root)

Nomenclature

Valeriana officinalis L.   Valerianaceae  
Syn. Valeriana exaltata J.C. Mikan  
Standardized common name (English): valerian  
Ayurvedic name(s): sugandhbala; tagara

Botanical Voucher Specimen

Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org	Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org	Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org	Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories

Macroscopic Characteristics

Official or great wild valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a large, handsome, herbaceous plant, with a perennial rhizome, and an erect, round, channelled stem, from two to four feet high, furnished with opposite pinnate leaves, and terminating in flowering branches. The leaves of the stems are attached by abort, broad sheaths; the radical leaves are larger and long petiolate. In the former the leaflets are lanceolate and partially dentate, in the latter elliptical and deeply serrate. The flowers are small, white or rose-colored, agreeably odorous, and disposed in terminal corymbs interspersed with pear-shaped bracts. The number of the stamens is three. The fruit is a capsule containing one oblong-ovate, compressed seed. Source: United States Dispensatory (1918) Source: PlantaPhile Source: PlantaPhile Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories

Microscopic Characteristics

The most distinctive element is the parenchyma cells packed with starch and the fragment of the root hair when viewed at 400X Acidified chloral Hydrate Soln. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories Parenchyma cells packed with starch 400X Acidified Chloral Hydrate Soln. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories Fragment of a Valeriana officinalis root hair 400X Acidified Chloral Hydrate Soln. Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories