[Valerians and Heliotropes: The Genus Valeriana East of the Cascade Mountains of Oregon and Washington]

Edible Valerian, Tobacco-root

Valeriana edulis var. edulis

Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis

This photo shows sitka valerian as seen along Road #4670 at Billy Meadows Guard Station in the northern Wallowa-Whitman N.F.......June 26, 2008.

Inflorescence of Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulisPhoto at right of edible valerian from Big Summit Prairie, Ochoco N.F........June 27, 1998.

Characteristics:

Edible valerian is a tall, erect perennial that ascends 10-120 cm from a stout, fleshy taproot. The basal leaves are numerous, firm, linear to obovate in shape and 7-40 cm long and 7-55 mm wide. The blades taper gradually to the petiole or base, and the margins are entire. Occasionally, some of the basal leaves will have several forward pointing lobes at the base. The 2-6 pairs of stem leaves are smaller, usually pinnatifid, with narrow lobes and short petioles, and becoming sessile towards the inflorescence.

The inflorescence is a panicle, often compact during bloom and elongating or expanding in fruit. The flowers are either perfect, staminate, or pistillate. The 5 petals or lobes of the corolla are slightly shorter than the tube.

The species name edulis meas edible. The taproot, when cooked was eaten by native Americans. The plant has an unpleasant odor, likened to "dirty feet", but after cooing the plant is more palatable. Evidently rats are attracted to the odor of the roots, and thus the roots were once used to attract rats for poisoning.


Habitat:

Edible valerian grows in moist meadows to slightly dry sites in montane or subalpine zones.


Range:

Edible valerian may be found from southern British Columbia south along the eastern edge of the Cascades to Mexico, and east to Montana, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, and Ontario.


Inflorescence of Valeriana edulis - Stem leaf of Valeriana edulis

These 2 photos show close-up views of the inflorescence and upper stem leaves of edible valerian as seen along Road #4670 at Billy Meadows Guard Station in the northern Wallowa-Whitman N.F........June 26, 2008. Click each photo to see enlarged views.

Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis - Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis

Edible valerian blooming in riparian soils atop Baldy Mountain, Strawberry Mountain Wilderness.......July 2, 2010.

Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis - Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis - Inflorescence of Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis

Edible valerian blooming in Summit Prairie, Malheur National Forest..........May 28, 2014.

Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis

Edible valerian beginning to bloom in moist meadows between FS Road #42 and Johnson Creek on forest service lands about one hundred meters west of the beginning of private lands in western Big Summit Prairie, Ochoco National Forest..........April 29, 2016.

Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis - Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis - Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis

Edible valerian blooming along the Ponderosa Loop Trail near the Ochoco Divide, Ochoco National Forest........May 19, 2018.

Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis

Close-up of the flowers and upper leaves of edible valerian from Big Summit Prairie, Ochoco N.F........June 27, 1998.

Edible Valerian, Tobacco Root, Tobacco-root: Valeriana edulis var. edulis

Valeriana edulis from Bear Lake, Bob Marshall Wilderness.....July 30, 1999.

Paul Slichter