The family Valerianaceae is primarily a north temperate family, but has a substantial representation in the mountains of South America. It has, however, only 13 genera so, not surprising, despite its concentration in the northern hemisphere, only two genera are found in northern Utah.

Most members of the Valerianaceae, and all ours, are herbaceous in habit but there are a few shrubs in the family and, in South America, some cushion plants. The leaves are opposite, often pinnatisect [which means pinnately cut but not completely divided into leaflets], without stipules, but frequently with clasping bases. The inflorescence is basically cymose with numerous, usually rather small flowers, all or most of which are subtended by bracts. The flowers are bilaterally symmetric or even irregular in the strict sense, i.e., with no axis of symmetry, and usually bisexual. The calyx is practically invisible on the flowers but often develops in wondrous ways in fruit. It is located on the top of the ovary and basically 5-lobed, but at anthesis the lobes require some insight to see; when the fruit matures, the "lobes: are found to be divided into a number of plumose capillary hairs in some species, or it remains inconspicuous, or become bladder-like. The corolla is united, with five lobes, often with a long tube and has a spur at the base in some genera. The stamens are epipetalous anc vary in number from 1 to 4.

The gynoecium consists of 3 united carpels and has an inferior ovary. The ovary can be somewhat confusing to interpret because only one locule, with one ovule, develops. The other two carpels may form an empty locule which splits open at maturity, or may simply not develop. Technically, the fruit is a cypsela which is an achene in which the ovule is pendulous rather than basal. The same is true of the Asteraceae, but part of the dumbing down of books for North Americans has involved lumping cypselas with achenes. To be quite honest, I do not think this particular example of dumbing down is particularly important. I believe the alphabetization of floras and herbaria has had significant negative consequences.

Many members of the Valerianaceae have a distinctive odor when dry (cannot say I have noticed it, but I have not smelled a lot of them). The odor reflects the presence of valerianic acid (wonder where it got that name) and its derivatives. These compounds are often most abundant in the roots. Several species have medicinal properties, and root and leaf extracts are used in treating nerve complaints. A few species are used for perfumes and dyes; for instance, spikenard is Nardostachys jatamansii, a Himalayan member of the Valerianaceae. Some European species of Valerianella are used in salads. If you decide to try out the local species, proceed with caution, a little at a time. Few plants contain poisons at sufficiently high concentrations to kill you if you proceed with caution.