Valerianaceae

The Valerianaceae Batsch,^[1] the valerian family, was a family of flowering plants that is now considered part of the Caprifoliaceae. Plants are generally herbaceous, and their foliage often has a strong, disagreeable odor. They are found native in most regions of the world except for Australia. Some species are cultivated as ornamentals or used in herbal medicine for inducing relaxation and sleep.

Garden valerian (redspur vlerian, genus Centranthus), a common perennial garden plant

The genera that were placed in this family, along with some species, include:

• Centranthus

C. ruber (red valerian, spur valerian or red spur valerian)

• Fedia

F. cornucopiae (African valerian, horn of plenty)

• Nardostachys

N. jatamansi (Spikenard)

N. chinensis

• Patrinia
• Plectritis
• Valeriana

V. dioica (marsh valerian)

V. officinalis (valerian)

• Valerianella

V. locusta (corn salad, lamb's lettuce)

DNA studies have found Valeriana to be paraphyletic with respect to Centranthus and Valerianella, and Valerianella with respect to Fedia. Some sources now include Centranthus, Fedia and Valerianella within Valeriana.

References

1. Angiosperm Phylogeny Group (2009). "An update of the Angiosperm Phylogeny Group classification for the orders and families of flowering plants: APG III". Botanical Journal of the Linnean Society. 161 (2): 105–121. doi:10.1111/j.1095-8339.2009.00996.x. hdl:10654/18083.

• Bell, C. D. 2004. Valerianaceae. The Tree of Life Web Project.
• Bell, C. D. 2004. Preliminary phylogeny of Valerianaceae (Dipsacales) based on nuclear and chloroplast DNA sequence data. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution 31:340-350.
• Jepson Manual Treatment for Valerianaceae Jepson Online Interchange, Jepson Flora Project.