365Caws is now in its 16th year of publication. If I am unable to post daily, I hope readers who love the natural world and fiberarts will seize those days to read the older material. Remember that this has been my journey as well, so you may find errors in my identifications of plants. I have tried to correct them as I discover them. Likewise, I have refined fiberarts techniques and have adjusted recipes, so search by tags to find the most current information. And thank you for following me!
Monday, August 22, 2016
Valeriana Sitchensis, Sitka Valerian
Day 314: Sitka Valerian (Valeriana sitchensis) is common sight in subalpine meadows. It also bears the distinction of having been described in one of the funniest entries in any field guide I've ever read. Aside from the fact that it is highly scented and not altogether pleasantly so, a tea made from the leaves is reputed to have medicinal value if one can get past the flavour which, according to the reference and not validated by personal experience, "tastes like boiled sweat-socks." The scent is less pungent, but still carries a note which may cause your nose to wrinkle until you have accustomed yourself to it as one of the most recognizable odors of the backcountry. You might even find yourself saying, "Ah, the Valerian is in bloom!" before you've observed a single umbel.
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