Valeriana obovata Tobacco root (Valerianaceae)

Browse Plants Articles

Power Search!

Browse Botanic Names

Sponsored By KhorWills

Valeriana obovata
Tobacco root
(1 Page of 5)

The Valeriana obovata plant species is found in Western N. America. It is a member of the Valerianaceae family. Common gardeners may know the plant as Tobacco root. Some home gardeners know the variety as V. edulis. Nutt.

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

Latin Name:  Valeriana obovata
Common Name:  Tobacco root
Family:  Valerianaceae
Author:  Nutt. ex Torr.&Gray.

Known Hazards:  The plant is considered to be poisonous raw[161, 207].

Mature Height:  1.2   Mature Width:

Habitat:  Open moist sites, moist meadows, ditches, swamps and prairies, sometimes on saline soils[60].

Edible Uses: Root - cooked[2, 22, 46, 161]. It requires a long steaming[95]. The Indians would slow-bake it for about 2 days[207]. A very strong and peculiar taste that is offensive to some people but agreeable to others[85, 207]. The root can be cooked and then dried and ground into a powder[62, 105]. Some caution is advised, see notes above on toxicity. Seed[172]. No more details are given but the seeds of other members of this genus are parched and then eaten.

For further Valeriana obovata gardening information
click on one of the blue links below

Cultivation | Propagation | General Uses
Medicinal | Edible Uses

The information above has been supplied solely via the hard work and dedication of the team at 'Plants for a Future'.
View their bibliography
Useful Edible Plants Future