Botanical illustration
At the Bergianska trädgården
| Valeriana phu | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Flowers form a cymose corymb | |
 | |
| Foliage | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Clade: | Asterids |
| Order: | Dipsacales |
| Family: | Caprifoliaceae |
| Genus: | Valeriana |
| Species: | V. phu |
| Binomial name | |
| Valeriana phu | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Valeriana phu, the golden spikenard, is a species of flowering plant in the family Caprifoliaceae, native to northern Turkey. [1] [2] [3] A rhizomatous geophytic perennial reaching 1 to 1.5 m (3 to 5 ft), it has a cultivar, 'Aurea', that is widely available from commercial suppliers. [2] [4]
Its rhizome is sometimes known as V. Radix Majoris and is said to be frequently found mingled with those of valerian root (V. officinalis) in a traditional medicinal preparation offered for sale. [5] It is from 4 to 6 inches long, 1/2 inch in thickness, brown and with a feeble, valerian-like odor and taste.
