Valeriana jatamansi Jones

Plants 20-70 cm tall. Rhizomes short, robust, usually 0.5-2 cm in diam., nodes crowded; roots fibrous. Stems 1 to several, erect, glabrate to pubescent, more densely so at nodes. Basal leaves persistent, rosulate; petiole 4-10 cm; blade simple, cordate to cordate-ovate, 2-14 × 3-10 cm, hispidulous or glabrous, margin irregularly crenulate, crenate, or dentate, apex acute. Cauline leaves in 2 or 3 pairs, sessile or subsessile, 1-3 cm, simple or trifoliolate; lateral lobes reduced; terminal lobe ovate. Inflorescence corymbiform, villous at nodes; bracts subulate, margin scarious; bracteoles ca. as long as achenes. Corolla white or pinkish, funnelform; flowers polygamous; bisexual flowers 3-4 mm, female flowers ca. 1.5 mm. Stamens and style exserted. Achenes narrowly ovoid, 2-2.5 × 1-1.5 mm, both sides villous. Fl. (Apr-)May-Jul, fr. Jun-Sep. 2n = 16, 32.

It is a tropical and subtropical plant. It grows in grassy slopes and beside streams below 2,500 m above sea level. In Nepal it grows between 1,200-3,600 m above sea level. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

The young leaves are cooked as a vegetable. They are used in stews and for a thick soup. The flowers are used as a potherb. The root is also stewed.