Valeriana fauriei is an East Asian valerian whose roots have a strong, musky smell. It grows wild in Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan, and is not found growing wild in the United States. Its root has long been used in Japan and Korea as a calming herbal medicine, much like common valerian in Europe.
Appearance
- Appearance
- A 16–31 in (40–80 cm) tall with opposite, deeply divided leaves and flat-topped clusters of tiny pink flowers about 1/8 in (3 mm) across.
- Flowering time
- Late spring to summer in its native range (May–August in Korea).
Where it lives
- Typical habitats
- Moist mountain meadows
- Shady, damp slopes
- Range
- Native to Japan, Korea, China, and Taiwan. It is not found growing wild in the United States.
Life cycle
- Seed dispersal
- Each small fruit carries a feathery tuft that lets the wind carry it away.
Conservation
- IUCN Red List
- NENot EvaluatedNot yet assessed
Culture and stories
- Culture and stories
- The scent of the root has also been used to flavor tobacco.
- Its Japanese name, kanokoso, means "fawn-spot plant": seen from above, the clusters of round buds look like the dotted tie-dye pattern called kanoko.
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