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©Copyright 1993 by the Regents of the University of California




Lauramay T. Dempster (except as specified)

Annual, perennial herb, sometimes strongly scented; odor generally disagreeable
Leaves simple, pinnately lobed, or compound; petioles sometimes sheathing; basal ± whorled; cauline opposite, petioled to sessile
Inflorescence: cyme, panicle, or head-like, generally ± dense
Flowers generally bisexual; calyx fused to ovary top, limb 0 or highly modified (if present, lobes generally 5–15, coiled inward, becoming plumose, pappus-like, spreading in fruit); corolla radial to 2-lipped, lobes generally 5, throat generally > lobes, > tube, base generally spurred or swollen, tube slender, long or short; stamens generally 1–3, epipetalous; ovary inferior, chamber generally 1 (sometimes 3 but 2 empty or vestigial)
Fruit: achene, smooth, ribbed, or winged
Genera in family: ± 17 genera, 300 species: generally temp, worldwide except Australia. Some species cultivated (Centranthus ), some medicinal (Valeriana )
Reference: [Ferguson 1965 J Arnold Arbor 46:218–225]



Annual, perennial herb (in CA) from rhizome or short underground caudex, glabrous to soft-hairy
Stem generally erect, 1–several
Leaves: basal simple or pinnately lobed, tapered to petiole; cauline subsessile to ± clasping, pinnately lobed, distal lobe generally > others
Inflorescence: cyme, clustered, ± dense to open, terminal or axillary
Flower: calyx lobes 5–15, generally ± coiled inward, becoming plumose, spreading and persistent in fruit; corolla ± funnel-shaped, white or pink, lobes ± equal, throat >> tube, sometimes swollen near base, tube slender, sometimes obscured by swollen throat; stamens 3; ovary ± 1-chambered
Fruit generally compressed, generally 6-veined vertically
Species in genus: ± 200 species: temp worldwide except Australia
Reference: [Meyer 1951 Ann Missouri Bot Gard 38:377–503]


V. occidentalis A. Heller

Plants with bisexual or pistillate flowers, generally glabrous; nodes, petiole base, sometimes sinuses between lobes short-hairy
Stem 3–7.5 dm
Leaves 5–30 cm; basal generally simple, blade ovate to round, sometimes deeply 3-lobed, lateral lobes < terminal lobe; cauline deeply lobed or compound, lobes or leaflets 3–7, margin entire, fine-crenate, or fine-dentate, terminal lobe generally obtuse
Flower: corolla 3–4 mm, white, lobes slightly < throat
Fruit 3–5 mm, ovoid
Ecology: Moist places, coniferous forest
Elevation: 1500–1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Warner Mountains
Distribution outside California: to Oregon, Montana, Colorado
Horticultural information: IRR, DRN: 4, 5, 6, 15, 17 &SHD: 1, 2, 7; DFCLT.
See the CNPS Inventory for information about endangerment and rarity.
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bioregional map for VALERIANA%20occidentalis being generated

Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Valeriana occidentalis
Retrieve dichotomous key for Valeriana
Overlay Consortium of California Herbaria specimen data by county on this map
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