Valeriana, Linnaeus, 1753

Silva, Cassio Rabuske Da & Külkamp, Josimar, 2018, Valeriana iganciana (Valerianaceae), a new species from the highland grasslands of Serra do Tabuleiro, Santa Catarina, Brazil, Phytotaxa 364 (3), pp. 275-282 : 280

Identification key to the species of Valeriana in the state of Santa Catarina

1. Prostrate, erect, or decumbent species; achene with vestigial, annular or slightly dentate calyx......................................................2

- Voluble or climbering species; achene with pappus-like calyx......................................................................................... V. scandens

2. Distal leaves pinnatisect or pinnatilobed............................................................................................................................................3

- Distal leaves entire (at most with a pair of basal lobes).....................................................................................................................4

3. Lobes linear, 5–8 (12) pairs, 25–50 mm long, terminal lobe similar in shape and size to the lateral ones; achene elliptical, pubescent, with rounded apex and annular to slightly dentate calyx ............................................................................... V. tajuvensis

- Lobes 1–4 pairs, up to 20 mm long, the terminal lobe larger than the lateral ones; achene ovate, glabrous (rarely pubescent) with valeculate apex and vestigial calyx ............................................................................................................................ V. catharinensis

4. Leaves linear, elliptic, lanceolate, obovate or oblanceolate, with entire or dentate margin; achene glabrous...................................5

- Leaves orbicular to reniform with crenate margin; achene densely hairy.................................................................. V. glechomifolia

5. Rhizomes and branches woody; distal leaves elliptic, lanceolate, obovate or oblanceolate; inhabit rocky outcrops and hillsides...6

- Rhizomes and branches herbaceous; distal leaves linear-lanceolate to oblong-lanceolate; common in marshes....... V. salicariifolia

6. Branches starting directly from the base or slightly above the thickened rhizomes; proximal leaves with truncated and praemorse apex, sessile, eventually with a pair of basal lobes............................................................................................................................7

- Single branches in early individuals and profusely branched in late phenophases, without thickened rhizomes; proximal leaves with rounded, obtuse, acute or acuminate apex, petiolate to pseudopetiolate (eventually sessile), petioles 10–18 (24) mm long, without basal lobes.............................................................................................................................................................................8

7. Leaves coriaceous, wrinkled in dry material; inflorescences with paniculiform paracladia; achene elliptic-globose, up to 1.5 × 1 mm, 5-costate, with dentate calyx .................................................................................................................................. V. eichleriana

- Leaves chartaceous, never wrinkled in dry material; inflorescences with glomeruliform paracladia; achene globose, larger than 1.8 × 1.6 mm, 3-costate, with vestigial calyx........................................................................................................................... V. reitziana

8. Leaves with dentate margins, teeth 3–4 mm long; achenes elliptic-globose, biconvex, up to 2 mm long, with emarginate apex and vestigial calyx............................................................................................................................................................................. V. ulei

- Leaves with entire margins, at most with 1–3 (4) pairs of teeth inconspicuous and restricted to the apical portion; achenes elliptical, triquetrous, 4 mm long, with acute apex and annular to slightly dentate calyx ............................................................... V. iganciana