Capitate valerian

Family Valerianaceae. Occurs in Siberia, the Far East, northern Mongolia, North America.

Rhizome long, creeping or ascending, with long filiform rootlets. Stems erect or slightly ascending, 10–45(60) cm high, glabrous or pubescent with short hairs, hairy at the nodes. Basal leaves, and often the lowest stem leaves, petiolate, simple, ovate to oblong-elliptic, with entire margins, more rarely with sparse teeth. Stem leaves sessile (lower ones often on short petioles), 3-parted, with a large central lobe, usually with 2–4 teeth on each side, sometimes almost entire; rarely the lateral segments in two pairs. Inflorescence dense, head-like corymb. Bracts linear, glabrous. Flowers white or lilac, 6–8 mm long. Fruits glabrous, 4–5 mm long.