The valerian family (Valerianaceae) was a plant family of the teasel order (Dipsacales) consisting of 17 genera and 300 to 400 species. It was first described by August Johann Georg Carl Batsch and later merged into the honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae). The majority of valerian species are found in the temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere and in the Andes. They are completely absent in tropical Africa, Madagascar, Southeast Asia, and Australia. They are predominantly herbaceous plants, with shrubs being rarer, and the differing growth forms mainly occur in the Andes. The leaves are arranged oppositely.