English: Red valerian; Spur valerian; Kiss-me-quick; Fox's brush; Devil's beard;
Jupiter's beard.
Source:
Sense provings.
Region: Mediterranean; naturalised in France, Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, United States.
Habitat: disturbed, rocky places; elevations below 200 m; roadsides, urban wasteland, in old walls; tolerating very alkaline soil conditions, lime in mortar.
Use: ornamental; leaves for food, fresh in salads or lightly boiled; roots boiled in soups.
Culture: invasive, in South Africa.
BotanyPerennial herb, subshrub or shrub; usually woody at the base.
Leaves: opposite, in pairs; oval or lanceolate; generally 5–8 cm in length; lower leaves petioled, upper ones sessile.
Inflorescence: large, showy.
Flowers: small, in rounded clusters; 5 fused petals and a spur; brick red or purplish red; flowering in early summer; with a strong and somewhat rank scent.
Pollination: bees, butterflies, insects.
Seeds: have tufts similar to dandelions; wind dispersal.