Valerianaceae

Non-woody (herbaceous) perennials, often with an unpleasant odour. Leaves opposite, simple to deeply lobed or compound, with one leaflet or lobe at the tip of the leaf and the others arranged on both sides of the leaf stalk or central vein (pinnate); stipules none.

Flowers small, usually white, often crowded in much branched dense cymes that often resemble panicles. Each flower may produce both pollen and seeds, or only one of these. Flowers usually only bilaterally symmetical, but superficially appear like they are radially symmetrical. Sepals 5, often inrolled to form an unlobed rim when flowers open, and later expand, sometimes growing out into 5 to many long feathery bristles, or are tiny and inconspicuous. Petals 4 or 5, fused at base to form a tube and often with 2 lips at the top; tube often has a spur or sac at its base. Stamens 1-4 (usually 3), separate, their stalks attached to the petals inside the tube. Carpels 3, fused to form 1 pistil; only one carpel develops a seed and the other two remain undeveloped; ovary located below point of attachment of other flower parts (inferior), with 1-3 chambers; style 1, undivided. Fruit are dry achenes with raised veins or nerves.