Caprifoliaceae FAMILY

Valeriana occidentalis

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

Some caution is advised with the use of this plant. At least one member of the genus is considered to be poisonous raw[ 161 Title Food Plants of the N. American Indians. Publication no. 237. Publication Author Yanovsky. E. Publisher U.S. Depf of Agriculture. Year ISBN - Description A comprehensive but very terse guide. Not for the casual reader. ] and V. officinalis is a powerful nervine and sedative that can become habit-forming.

Botanical Description

Valeriana occidentalis is a rather stout, herbaceous perennial plant that can grow around 40 - 90cm tall[ 71 Title A California Flora. Publication Author Munz P.A. & Keck D.D. Publisher University of California Press; Los Angeles Year 1959 ISBN - Description An excellent flora but no pictures. Not for the casual reader. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and medicine

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern and central N. America - Washington to Montana and South Dakota, south to California, Arizona and New Mexico.

HabitatMoist open or shaded places, from foothills to rather high elevations in the mountains[ 60 Title Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. Publication Author Hitchcock. C. L. Publisher University of Washington Press Year 1955 ISBN - Description A standard flora for Western N. America with lots of information on habitat etc. Five large volumes, it is not for the casual reader. ].