Valeriana officinalis, L.

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 53

1. V. officinalis L. , Sp. Pl. 31 (1753) .

Rhizome simple, short, not very stout, sometimes stoloniferous. Stem (15-)30-150(~240) cm, usually solitary, robust, sulcate, pubescent or glabrous. All leaves usually pinnate or pinnatisect with 3-25 leaflets; leaflets linear, lanceolate or elliptical, entire or toothed. Inflorescence compound, the partial inflorescences dense. Flowers hermaphrodite, pink or white; corolla-tube 2-5-5 mm. Bracteoles about equalling fruit. Fruit 2-5 mm, hairy or glabrous. 2/2= 14, 28, (49), 56. Most of Europe, but rare in the extreme south. All except Az BI Co Cr Fa?Gr Sb Si.

Extremely variable, many taxa having been described (see especially A. Maillefer, Mém. Soc. Vaud. Sci. Nat. 8: 277-340 (1946), E. Walther, Miti. Thür. Bot. Ges. 2, Beih. 1:1 -108 (1949)). Diploids, tetraploids and octoploids occur, but the level of ploidy is by no means constant within the taxa described. The following 3 subspecies can usually be distinguished, but intermediates occur and are common in certain regions; it is not certain how some of the described taxa should be accommodated.

1 Plant with epigeal stolons; middle cauline leaves with terminal leaflet distinctly wider than the middle lateral leaflets

(c) subsp. sambucifolia 1 Plant without stolons, or with hypogeal stolons only; middle cauline leaves with terminal leaflet not wider than the middle lateral leaflets

2 Leafletsof middlecaulineleaveslanceolate,dentate

(a) subsp. officinalis 2 Leafletsof middlecaulineleaves linear,entire (b) subsp.collina