European Corn-salad
Valerianella locusta
Click or tap the section titles below to learn more about this species!
CLASSIFICATION: What’s in a name?
Scientific Name: Valerianella locusta. The genus, Valerianella,refers to the genus’ superficial similarity to another group of plants, the valerians.
Common Name: European Corn-salad is named for its native range, Europe. The common name for the genus, corn-salad refers to its presence as a weed in agricultural fields.
Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle family) Plants in the honeysuckle family typically have leaves opposite each other on the stems. The flowers are radially or bilaterally symmetrical and tubular in shape, with 4 or 5 stamens and 4 or 5 petals. The fruit may be a capsule or berry. Familiar species in this family include the honeysuckles (Lonicera spp.), teasel (Dipsacus fullonum), and ornamental shrubs Abelia, Kolkwitzia and Weigela.5
IDENTIFICATION: What does it look like?
Average Height: 4-10 inches
Description: A winter annual plant that grows from fibrous roots (rather than a central taproot). Leaves are distributed on the stems and at the base of the plant. The leaves are simple and opposite, lacking a leafstalk, and the upper ones can have a few teeth on either side. The stem is branched low to the ground, typically below ⅖ of the total height of the plant. The flowers and fruiting parts are clustered at the tip of the stem branches in rounded heads.5,7
Bloom time: Apr – May
Notes: This species is quite similar to other species of corn-salad found in Virginia, but can be distinguished by it’s pale blue flowers (vs. white or pale pink) and that its stems branch low to the ground (in lower ⅖ of plant vs. upper ⅗ ).7
LOCATION: Where is it at home?
Range: Common across most of Virginia, except for the southwestern part, where it is much less frequent. Native of Eurasia. In the United States, it is naturalized from Maine south to Alabama, and west to Illinois and extreme E. Texas, as well as in the northwestern states (N. California N. to Washington and east to NW. Montana).1,6
Geology/Soil: Typically growing in sandy or loamy, nutrient-rich soils which include moderate to high levels of calcium, magnesium, and potassium.
Habitat: A wide variety of usually disturbed habitats, including yards, gardens, roadsides, riverbanks, and floodplain forests.4,6
CONNECTIONS: What are its relationships to other plants, animals, and humans?
Flora associations: At Riverview Park, this species can be found along trail edges and disturbed forest with ruderal species such as poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans), beaked corn-salad (Valerianella radiata), field garlic (Allium vineale), yellow rocket (Barbarea vulgaris), and corn-gromwell (Buglossoides arvensis).
Fauna associations: Little is known about how this plant associates with insects or other animals in its environment. Can you observe any?
Human associations: European corn-salad has long been eaten as a spring green, both by the Cherokee, as well in its native range. Thomas Jefferson cultivated it in his garden at Monticello.8
We want these plants to thrive and for everyone who gets to visit the park to enjoy them, so remember – don’t pick flowers or other parts of the plant!!
Bibliography & Definitions
1 “2013 BONAP North American Plant Atlas. TaxonMaps.” Bonap.net, bonap.net/Napa/TaxonMaps/Genus/County/Valerianella. Accessed 1 Mar. 2024.
2 Allain, Larry. Valerianella Radiata Beaked Cornsalad Valerianaceae Valerianella Radiata. Oct. 2022.
3 Hilty, John. “Beaked Corn Salad (Valerianella Radiata).” Www.illinoiswildflowers.info, www.illinoiswildflowers.info/weeds/plants/corn_salad.htm. Accessed 1 Mar. 2024.
4 LeGrand, Harry , et al. “Vascular Plants of North Carolina.” Ncparks.gov, 2019, auth1.dpr.ncparks.gov/flora/species_account.php.
5 Native Plant Trust. “Family: Caprifoliaceae (Honeysuckle Family): Go Botany.” Gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org, gobotany.nativeplanttrust.org/family/caprifoliaceae/#:~:text=Family%3A%20Caprifoliaceae%20%E2%80%94%20honeysuckle%20family&text=They%20are%20actinomorphic%20(radially%20symmetrical. Accessed 1 Mar. 2024.
6 Virginia Botanical Associates. “Digital Atlas of the Virginia Flora | Search Results for Valerianella.” Vaplantatlas.org, 2024, vaplantatlas.org/index.php?s=valerianella&c=&do=search%3Aadvanced&search=Search. Accessed 1 Mar. 2024.
7 Weakley, A.S., J.C. Ludwig, and J.F. Townsend. 2012. Flora of Virginia. Bland Crowder, ed. Foundation of the Flora of Virginia Project, Inc., Richmond. Fort Worth: Botanical Research Institute of Texas Press, , pp. 1155-1157.
8 “BRIT – Native American Ethnobotany Database.” Naeb.brit.org, naeb.brit.org/uses/search/?string=valerianella. Accessed 2 Mar. 2024.
Definitions:
Ruderal: An ecosystem which results from heavy disturbance, or a species which colonizes disturbed ground or is characteristic of such conditions.
Winter annual: An annual which germinates in fall and overwinters as a seedling before flowering and setting seed rapidly in spring, then dying.