Valeriana himalayana

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VOF Week: Valeriana jatamansii??? en-route Hemkund Sahib: Came across this small herb en-route Hemkund Sahib. Looks like some Valeriana sp.? I had just gone thru the … post where in … has indicated that this plant could be Valeriana jatamansii.

Thank you very much … for getting us to see the basal leaves.
Referring to … comment in my post at https://groups.google.com/d/msg/indiantreepix/23Ygi-S8t5s/2tUFia2UQoAJ … basal leaves are simple cordate in case of Valeriana jatamansii … not sure the leaves are cordate here; they seem to have winged stalk.
Let us wait for … comment.

Yes … I had my doubts even before I read your mail. Pink flowers were already worrying me. I would now go with V. himalayana, till better alternative emerges.

VoF Week :: DV :: 03 AUG 12 – 1245 :: lilac-coloured flowers along Hemakund – Ghangaria trail:   3 AUG 12
Hemakund – Ghangaria trail … about 13500 ft
Habitat: sloping meadow
Habit: small herb, about 50 – 60 cm high; flower about 5 mm across

Basal leaves are very important in this genus, but upper three-lobed leaves suggest Valeriana jatamansii.

Hope basal leaves are simple and cordate at base.

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I could not find any photo showing the basal leaves.
I am almost convinced of V. jatamansii.

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Another uncommon family member. Valerianaceae.

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… putting a cropped photo, hopefully giving us a picture of basal leaves of the above posted plant. (Had overseen it during earlier digging).
It also is in line with … upload at https://groups.google.com/forum/#!msg/indiantreepix/vgBApujDwOU/yxTF9CHw0ZYJ

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May be Valeriana pyrolifolia

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Not pyrolaefolia in which cauline leaves like basal leaves are not lobed,

http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=53996&flora_id=5

V. himalayana the leaves are narrower and narrowed at base, although cauline leaves are trifid.

http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=53998&flora_id=5

I think V. jatamansi, as lowermost leaves appear cordate, perhaps another better view of basal leaves should help http://www.efloras.org/object_page.aspx?object_id=53995&flora_id=5

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I think, it could be Valeriana fedtsehenkoi ??? or himalyana???

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… attached is further cropped version to view the basal leaf alone. Hope it helps.

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Yes … Had seen this earlier, but thought the upper cordate base leaf (saw several of them in your original photograph) are basal and this slightly higher leaf.

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Attaching cropped versions of one of the above photo to show the upper-most and mid-level leaves.
The mid-level seem to be lobed kind of the basal leaves.

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If these are basal and midcauline leaves, then it goes with V. himalayana. Also the single plant habit goes with this species.

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upper Chamba id al300811a: 8 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (3) Looking back as hindsight.. I realise that I should have spent more time photographing better images… except for the fact that I was still in the middle of nowhere and had miles to go before I would sleep….

Location Chamba
Altitude 4500 mts
Habit herb
Habitat wild
Plant height 12 inches

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Valeriana sp

Basal and middle leaves need to be seen for species fixation.

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Sir, these are the best enlargements I can take from the high-res photos…

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Your experience is not different than many others.
The same thing happened with me during my Spiti visit. Most of my group members were interested in watching birds and I used to be the laggard running behind plants.
Anyway you are from Himalayan region. You may get time again to observe these plants again and take more photographs. We are enjoying the genera at least. Keep posting.

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I will go with V. pyrolaefolia

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Ahhh.. yes sir, I remember your own id keys…

“Perhaps it should be understood that all three species V. pyrolaefolia, V.jatamansii and V. hardwickii have simple basal leaves. In V. pyrolaefolia cauline are also simple, in V. jatamansii cauline 3-fid and in Hardwickii cauline 3-7 pinnatipartite”

I guess I should revise my lessons more often…

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Perhaps some more searching. Although basal leaves are not cordate, I see some cauline leaves with basal lobes. So V. jatamansi is also under consideration.

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Appears more closer to the images at Valeriana himalayana Grubov

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Flora of Uttarakhand- Herb12 for Id- JM : 6 posts by 4 authors. Attachments (4)

Wild Herb captured on 13/8/10 during the trek from Ghangaria (around 11,000 ft.) to Hemkunt Sahib (around 14000 ft.).

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I hope Valeriana pyrolaefolia

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Valeriana pyrolaefolia from me too

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Valeriana pyrolaefolia Dcne.
Strangely, I couldnt find anything taxonomical on this plant on google.

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Thanks, … Can it be Valeriana jatamansii with details in Concise Flowers of Himalayas by Oleg Polunin & Adam Stainton as Valeriana pyrolaefolia is out of range as per the book & flowering period is different?

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I think you are right. Basal leaves appear somewhat cordate and upper somewhat trifid.

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I guess close to Valeriana pyrolifolia Decne. !

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I think close to  Valeriana himalayana Grubov as per keys at Flora of Pakistan and comparative images at Valeriana. Not Valeriana pyrolifolia

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