Valerian
the type genus of Valerianaceæ; an order of herbs of rarely shrubs belonging to the division of monoshrubs belonging to the division of monomens arising from the petals. The order petalous dicotyledons having the stais distinguished from its congeners by the opposite leaves; small irregular flowers in which the corolla lobes are imbri- the opposite leaves; small irregular flow- is distinguished from its congeners by cate; stamens, one to three or five, free; ovary one to three celled, one cell one- cate; stamens, one to three or five, free; ovuled; ovule pendulous; seeds exalbumi- 190 species, distributed through Europe, It contains 12 genera and about northern Africa, temperate Asia, northwestern America - unknown in Australia, and only one species south sia, and African. The properties are aromatic, antispasmodic, sometimes stimulant. The African. The properties are aromatic, Of these, V. officinalis, ranging across northern and central Europe and Asia to Japan, is a common British plant. Its rootstock has long been valued as an antispasmodic, and is successfully employed in hysteria. It has a penetrating odor, and a bitter, acrid, somewhat aroodor, and a bitter, acrid, somewhat aromatic taste; when distilled with water it yields a volatile oil and valerianic acid.
Cats have a strange liking for the odor, and it exercises a remarkable intoxicating or stimulating power over them; the plant is sometimes called cats' valerian.
The roots of V. celtica are used by Eastnations as a substitute for spikenard Indians of northwestern America. The for aromatizing their baths, and those of Indians of northwestern America. The southern France and Spain, has become naturalized in parts of Great Britain, and several other species are commonly grown in gardens. The word valerian is from Latin valere, "to heal," and one of the names of V. officinalis is "all-heal." red valerian (V. pyrenaica), a native of C5H10O2, an organic acid present in valerian root, angelica root, in the berries of Viburnum opulus, and probably in