Valeriana officinalis L.

Spice Flowers Fruits In the field

Family: VALERIANACEAE

Genus: Valeriana

Catalan common name: Herba gatera. Valedriana. Valeriana. Valeriana vera.

Spanish common name: Hierba de los gatos. Valeriana.

Province distribution: Barcelona. Castelló. Girona. Lleida. València.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Eurosiberian

Uses and properties: Aromatic. Medicinal.

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Hemicryptophyte.

Habitats: River forests. Cultivated species. River forest and moist mountainous grasslands. Gardens.

Characteristics: A perennial herb with a slightly succulent constitution, can reach 2 m. in height; forms rhizomes. The stems are green and canulate. The leaves are opposite and are divided with folioles lanceolate, dentate and pilose on the leaf reverse. The flowers are grouped in terminal glomerules inflorescences with flowers whitish-pink, a central and upper inflorescence, and two lateral and inferior. The bracts have translucid margins.