VALERIAN
Va*le"ri*an, n. Etym: [LL. valeriana, perhaps from some person named
Valerius, or fr. L. valere to be strong. powerful, on account of its
medicinal virtues: cf. F. valériane.] (Bot.)
Defn: Any plant of the genus Valeriana. The root of the officinal valerian (V. officinalis) has a strong smell, and is much used in medicine as an antispasmodic. Greek valerian (Bot.), a plant (Polemonium cæruleum) with blue or white flowers, and leaves resembling those of the officinal valerian.
VALERIANACEOUS
Va*le`ri*an*a"ceous, a. (Bot.)
Defn: Of, pertaining to, or resembling, plants of a natural order (Valerianaccæ) of which the valerian is the type. The order includes also the corn salads and the oriental spikenard.
VALERIANATE
Va*le"ri*an*ate, n. (Chem.)
Defn: A valerate.
VALERIANIC
Va*le`ri*an"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Performance to, or obtained from, valerian root; specifically, designating an acid which is usually called valeric acid.
VALERIC
Va*ler"ic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Valerianic; specifically, designating any one of three metameric acids, of which the typical one (called also inactive valeric acid), C4H9CO2H, is obtained from valerian root and other sources, as a corrosive, mobile, oily liquid, having a strong acid taste, and an odor of old cheese. Active valeric acid, a metameric variety which turns the plane of polarization to the right, although formed by the oxidation of a levorotatory amyl alcohol.