Valeriana officinalis (root)

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AHPA recognizes other valuable resources exist regarding the identity of Valeriana officinalis.

To submit a suggestion or contribution, please contact Merle Zimmermann.

Contents

Nomenclature

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

Botanical Voucher Specimen

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Valeriana officinalis Tropicos 55415.jpg
Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org[1]

Valeriana officinalis Tropicos 55418.jpg
Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org[2]

Valeriana officinalis Tropicos 100187916.jpg
Source: MOBOT, Tropicos.org[3]

Valeriana officinalis D31406JD A0951.jpg
Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories[4]

Organoleptic Characteristics

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) [5]

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PlantaPhile - 1995.jpg
Source: PlantaPhile[6]

PlantaPhile - 1817.jpg
Source: PlantaPhile[7]

Alkemists Valeriana officinalis L. -Valerianaceae--1 macro cut sifted.jpg
Source: Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories[8]

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 [9]

AP-LOGO-Laboratories Crop - Copy.jpg


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Alkemists Valeriana officinalis L. -Valerianaceae--2.jpg
Parenchyma cells packed with starch 400X Acidified Chloral Hydrate Soln.
Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories[10]

Alkemists Valeriana officinalis L. -Valerianaceae--3.jpg
Fragment of a Valeriana officinalis root hair 400X Acidified Chloral Hydrate Soln.
Source: Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories[11]

High Performance Thin Layer Chromatographic Identification

Supplementary Information

Sources

  1. MOBOT, Tropicos.org http://www.tropicos.org/Image/55415
  2. MOBOT, Tropicos.org http://www.tropicos.org/Image/55418
  3. MOBOT, Tropicos.org http://www.tropicos.org/Image/100187916
  4. Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com
  5. United States Dispensatory (1918)
  6. PlantaPhile http://plantaphile.com/
  7. PlantaPhile http://plantaphile.com/
  8. Botanical Voucher Specimen Library, Alkemists Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com
  9. Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com
  10. Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com
  11. Elan M. Sudberg, Alkemist Laboratories http://www.alkemist.com
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