Edible valerian (V. e' dulls, syn. F. ceratophyl'la (Hook.) Piper, 

 not H. B. K.), one of the most common and widely distributed 

 western valerians, usually inhabits drier and more open sites than 

 most of its sister species. It grows in open parks, woodlands, and 

 dry meadows from Ontario to Ohio and westward to New Mexico, 

 California, and British Columbia. This species is quite unlike 

 Scouler valerian and western valerian in general appearance, being 

 a tall, erect plant with thick, deepset, fleshy taproots and elongated, 

 loosely branched flower clusters. Its densely tufted basal leaves are 

 rather thick, reverse lance-shaped, mostly entire, and have prac- 

 tically parallel veins. The forage of edible valerian is usually rated 

 poor to fair in palatability for cattle and fair to fairly good for 

 sheep. In some localities, however, it ranks as a distinctly inferior 

 forage plant. Formerly, the thick carrotlike roots of this plant, 

 and possibly the roots of other valerians, were eaten, after prolonged 

 cooking, by various tribes of western Indians. 





