Description

Valeriana jatamansi, referred to in Ayurvedic texts as Tagara and regionally known as Bhootkeshi in the central Himalayan belt, is a perennial herb of the family Caprifoliaceae, indigenous to the temperate and sub-alpine zones of the Himalayas from Afghanistan through Uttarakhand to Bhutan. It colonises moist, humus-rich soils in forest clearings, stream banks, and alpine grasslands at elevations between 1,500 and 3,500 metres. The strongly aromatic, knotted rhizome is harvested from wild populations and finds extensive use in Ayurvedic formulations traditionally addressing sleep-related concerns, neurological calm, and anxiety. The species is increasingly threatened by over-collection and is listed in Schedule VI of the Wildlife Protection Act in certain Indian states.