Beaked Corn Salad

Valerianella radiata

OR

Valeriana woodsiana

val-er-ee-ah-NEL-uh  rad-ee-AY-tuh

Synonyms of Valeriana woodsiana (13) (Updated on 12-11-23 from Plants of the World Online): Fedia radiata (L.) Michx., Fedia woodsiana Torr. & A.Gray, Valeriana locusta var. radiata L., Valeriana radiata (L.) Willd., Valeriana valerianella Christenh. & Byng, *Valerianella radiata (L.) Dufr., Valerianella radiata f. demareei Egg.Ware, Valerianella radiata var. fernaldii Dyal, Valerianella radiata f. fernaldii (Dyal) Egg.Ware, Valerianella radiata var. missouriensis Dyal, Valerianella radiata f. parviflora (Dyal) Egg.Ware, Valerianella stenocarpa var. parviflora Dyal, Valerianella woodsiana (Torr. & A.Gray) Walp.
*The above list of synonyms is from Plants of the World Online, therefore it lists Valerianella radiata as a synonym. If you go the other route and elect to use Valerianella radiata as the accepted name, then Valeriana woodsiana would be the synonym. Take your pick.

Most websites and databases list Valerianella radiata (L.) Dufr. as the accepted scientific name. It was named and described as such by Pierre Dufresne in Histoire Naturelle et Médicale de la Famille des Valérianées in 1811. It was first described as Valeriana locusta var. radiata by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753. Valeriana locusta  L. is still an accepted species.

When I updated this page in May 2021, Plants of the World Online (by Kew Science) said the name had changed but pretty much all other databases and websites hadn’t changed yet… I waited until 11-14-21 when I updated this page again to see if the other databases and websites changed the name. Well, they hadn’t, so I sent an email to the senior editor of POWO to quiz him about the name change. His reply was, “Yes, all Valerianella need to go into the Valeriana, as long suggested they are in no way a separate genus.”

Although POWO is sticking with Valeriana woodsiana, there are still 28 species in the Valerianella genus… 

So, according to Plants of the World Online, Valeriana woodsiana (Torr. & A.Gray) Christenh. & Byng is the accepted scientific name for this species. It was named and described as such by Maarten Joost Maria Christenhusz and James W. Byng in Plant Gateway’s the Global Flora in 2018. It was first named Fedia woodsiana by John Torrey and Asa Gray in Flora of North America in 1841.

Plant Gateway’s The Global Flora was published and submitted and made available in 2018 but it is a very lengthy process to go through the approval hoops. In the case of Plant Gateway’s The Global Flora… Well, let’s just say there is A LOT of controversy about this publication. They did follow the ICN rules as far as publishing is concerned, but this publication covers changing several thousand plant names and merging Valerianella into the Valeriana genus. Some argue, it was “self-published” (the authors own the publishing company) and not ” peer-reviewed” before it was published. The editor of KEW said is was peer-reviewed. Honestly, POWO doesn’t take changing names lightly. I haven’t read the publication because I’m not paying for something that should be free to the public for research purposes (i.e available to read in the Biodiversity Heritage Library). Likely, most of the people debating this publication and all the name changes haven’t read it either. I actually applaud such young men making such a bold move, but still, the changing of so many names will add a lot of confusion to the heap. Which isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As I said, I am not taking sides on this one. I am just anxious to see how it plays out.

The genus, Valeriana L., was named and described by Carl von Linnaeus in the first volume of the first edition of Species Plantarum in 1753. 

The genus, Valerianella Mill., was named and described as such by Philip Miller in The Gardeners Dictionary in 1754. Plants of the World Online still lists this genus as accepted along with 28 accepted species. However, they say, “The native range of this genus to become a synonym of Valeriana.”

As of 12-11-23 when this page was last updated, Plants of the World Online by Kew lists 28 accepted species in the Valerianella genus and 424 in the Valeriana genus. It is a member of the plant family Caprifoliaceae with 33 genera. Those numbers could change as updates are made on POWO.

The above distribution map for Valeriana woodsiana is from Plants of the World Online. Areas in green are where the species is native. The map on the USDA Plants Database is the same but, of course, lists the species as Valerianella radiata.

The map on iNaturalist shows where members have made observations. Anyone can join and it is a great website to confirm and share your observations. The maps on iNaturalist are continually updated as members post new observations. The iNaturalist website uses the scientific name Valerianella radiata.

THERE ARE SEVERAL LINKS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE FOR FURTHER READING AND TO HELP WITH A BETTER POSITIVE ID.

I first observed and identified Valerianella radiata/Valeriana woodsiana in an area north of the chicken house on April 23 in 2020. Then on May 24 in 2021 I found a few plants in the southeast part of the farm close to an area I call the swamp. In 2022, I took photos of a good-sized colony in the hayfield/pasture. 

There are more photos at the bottom of the page that were taken from 2020 through 2022. I take a lot of photos so I can upload the observations on iNaturalist and for this blog/website. It is very addictive!

This species can easily be overlooked if it weren’t for its bright white flowers. Although the flowers are small, the clusters in mass will catch your eye if you are looking for wildflowers from late April through May. After that, you could be out of luck.

Valerianella radiata, or whatever you prefer to call it, prefers a habitat of moist loamy soil in full to part sun. The best plants are found in full sun, while those in part shade and different soil types are usually smaller and less prolific. They have been found in a variety of habitats including prairies, glades, savannas, fens, forest openings, streambanks, pastures, fields, roadsides and railroads, moist meadows, abandoned fields, and open disturbed areas. I always wondered what a “disturbed area” was, but apparently, it could mean areas that experience seasonal changes. There are different types of disturbed areas, but in this case, where found here on the farm, the only disturbance is from seasonal changes. 

Beaked Corn Salad grows to a height of about 1 1/2’ tall on 4-angled stems with small wings (more like ridges). The hollow stems may be glabrous (hairless) or have small retrorse (pointing backward) hairs along the wings. The stems branch out in pairs at the upper.

One of the most interesting characteristics of this plant is its leaves. They grow in an opposite pattern along the stem in pairs and are obovate, or oblanceolate in shape, the tips being mostly rounded. Some of the leaves may be more narrow in the center. The bases of the leaves of the plants I have photographed have no petioles (leaf stems) and rather clasp the stems (fused), especially the lower few pairs.

The mid to upper leaves are more clasping and also winged. The margins can be smooth (as with the lower pairs) or have a few teeth near the base. The leaves have a prominent midvein, the one of the undersurface being fairly hairy.

Pairs of small flat-topped clusters of white flowers are produced at the top of the upper stems. The above photo shows the clasping, winged leaves at the apex of the stem with teeth toward the base. The stem divides at this upper node and becomes a pair of stems that terminate with a pair of peduncles with a cluster of flowers on top. GEEZ!

There are a pair of leaf-like bracts at the base of the peduncles (flower stems) that go to the clusters of flowers. The above photo also shows the bracts that subtend the entire cluster of flowers.

Each small funnelform flower consists of a 5-lobed corolla that is subtended by a small bractlet. The floral tube makes up about the length of the flower. The white flowers are approximately 1/8” across and consist of 3 exerted white stamens (male part) with white filaments and white anthers. In the center, there is one pistol with 3 carpels on top of a 3-celled (3-locule). Only one locule is fertile with 1 ovule. The pollen-receptive stigma is usually slightly 3-lobed. Oh, of course, there is a style between the ovary and the stigma. Close-up photos would be great! 

After a while, when the flowers start to fade and fall off, the fruit (former ovaries), becomes more visible. Close-ups would be nice…

Hopefully, in 2023, I can find this interesting species again so I can work on taking more and better closeups. Practice makes perfect. 🙂

Don’t forget there are more photos below.

I have enjoyed photographing and learning about the many wildflowers growing on the farm and in other areas. The farm is in Windsor, Missouri in Pettis County (Henry County is across the street, and Benton and Johnson aren’t far away). I have grown over 500 different plants and identified over 250 species of wildflowers (most have pages listed on the right side of the page). I am not an expert, botanist, or horticulturalist. I just like growing, photographing, and writing about my experience. I rely on several websites for ID and a few horticulturalists I contact if I cannot figure them out. Wildflowers can be somewhat variable from location to location, so sometimes it gets a bit confusing. If you see I have made an error, please let me know so I can correct what I have written.

I hope you found this page useful and be sure to check the links below for more information. They were written by experts and provide much more information. Some sites may not be up-to-date but they are always a work in progress. If you can, I would appreciate it if you would click on the “Like” below and leave a comment. It helps us bloggers stay motivated. You can also send an email to me at thebelmontrooster@yahoo.com. I would enjoy hearing from you especially if you notice something is a bit whacky.

FOR FURTHER READING:
PLANTS OF THE WORLD ONLINE (GENUS/SPECIES)
INTERNATIONAL PLANT NAMES INDEX (GENUS/SPECIES)
TROPICOS (GENUS/SPECIES)
FLORA OF MISSOURI (GENUS/SPECIES)
WIKIPEDIA (GENUS/SPECIES)
USDA PLANTS DATABASE
DAVE’S GARDEN
MISSOURI PLANTS
iNATURALIST
WILDFLOWER SEARCH
ILLINOIS WILDFLOWERS
KANSAS WILDFLOWERS AND GRASSES
PFAF(PLANTS FOR A FUTURE)
GO BOTANY
LADY BIRD JOHNSON WILDFLOWER CENTER
MARYLAND BIODIVERSITY PROJECT
VASCULAR PLANTS OF NORTH CAROLINA
NATIVE PLANTS OF THE CAROLINAS & GEORGIA

NOTE: The data (figures, maps, accepted names, etc.) may not match on these websites. It depends on when and how they make updates and when their sources make updates. Some websites have hundreds and even many thousands of species to keep up with. Accepted scientific names change periodically and it can be hard to keep with as well. Some of the links may use a name that is a synonym on other sites. In my opinion, Plants of the World Online by Kew is one of the most reliable and up-to-date plant databases and they make updates regularly. I make updates “at least” once a year and when I write new pages or add new photos but I do get behind. We are all a work in progress. 🙂

MORE PHOTOS…

The above photo and the next three were taken in an area north of the chicken house. It is a level area where the soil can stay damp for a while in the spring.

 

 

<<<<2021>>>>

The above photo and the next four were taken near the corner of the southeast part of the farm. It is a low area that is kind of shady where the soil stays fairly damp for quite a while in the spring.

 

 

 

<<<<2022>>>>

I believe the above photo and next three were taken in the southeast pasture close to where the photos were taken in 2020.