The Flora of Derbyshire - Checklist, Maps and Sample Accounts

THIS IS A DRAFT

The species account below is an early version, drafted around 2003. It has been provided here to aid understanding, but please be aware it may not fully tally with the up-to-date map and statistics shown below.

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Dates
First year: 1724
Latest year: 2007

County Status
Native

Family
Valerianaceae

Total records held
1150

Grid Square Count

1987-2007	Ever
Monads: 418	474
Tetrads: 282	326
Hectads: 36	38

Conservation Status

Account last edited
Dec 2 2006

Explanation of terms

Species Details

Common Valerian is an occasional native perennial of dry or damp grassy places, marshes, fens, water margins and wet woods throughout Derbyshire. Some authorities recognise two wild forms of the plant, one of dry calcareous grassland and the other of wetter habitats, but it is often not possible to separate them clearly. It has also been extensively grown for medicinal purposes, including the cure of hysteria and nervous complaints. Farey (1815) notes it was cultivated at Milltown and North-edge in Ashover; Mabey (1996) describes planting near Clay Cross in the 1860s; and it was grown up until the last war around Stretton and Brackenfield.