Family Valerianacea.
Habitat Western Himalayas, Kashmir at Sonamarg at 2,400— 2,700 m.
English Common Valerian.
Ayurvedic Abhramaansi.
692 Valeriana hardwickii Wall.
Action Rhizome and roots— sedative, hypotensive, cardiotonic; depressant on CNS, antispasmodic; used for hysteria, neurosis, nervousness, hypochondriasis.
The roots and rhizomes yielded alkaloids—dipyridylmethylketone, actinidine, iso-valeramide and valerianme; sesquiterpene ketone-valeranone. Bornyl acetate is the major constituent of the root oil, 31.5%, whereas it is only 6.6% in leaf oil. Bornyl isovalerate is reported from the root oil.
Valeriana hardwickii Wall.
Family Valerianaceae.
Habitat The temperate Himalayas from Kashmir to Bhutan at altitudes of 1,200—3,60 m and in the Khasi and Jaintia hifis between 1,500 and 1,800 m.
Folk Sugandhabaalaa, Tagger,
Taggar-ganthodaa. Asaarun (Kumaon).
Action Used as V jatamansi and V officinalis.
Valeriana hardwickii is known as Taggar-ganthodaa in Mumbai and Asaarun in Kumaon. In Unani medicine, Asaarun is equated with Asarum europaeum Linn. (Aristolochiaceae). It is known as Subul-e-barri, Naardinbarn and Persian Tagar; Wild Nard, Hazel Wort and Asarabacca in English. Though sedative and brain tonic, Asaarun should not be equated with Tagara.
Baalaka is a confusing synonym of Tagara. It should be equated with Pavonia odorata Willd. (Malvaceae).
Baalaka (syns: Ambu, Baala, Barhishtha, Hrivera, Jala, Kacha, Muurdhaja, Udichi, Udichya) is known as Sugandhabaalaa in Northern markets. In South India Coleus vettiveroides
K. C. Jacob (Labiateae) is preferred as Baalaka. Delphinium brunonianum Royle (Ranunculaceae), with synonyms Kutila, Nata, Vakra, is also used as Tagara.
Valeriana Ieschenaultii DC. var. brunoniana C. B. Clarke.
Family Valerianaceae.
Habitat Karnakata and the Nilgiris.
Ayurvedic Tagara (related species).
Folk Sugandhabaalaa, Taggar, Baalaka.
