cells spread half open, in the form of wings to the grain, 
and in having a long spur at the base of the corolla. As 
the genera of Valerianeæ are now constituted, we should 
have been justified in proposing this as a peculiar genus; 
we have, however, preferred recording it as a curious sec- 
tion of Valerianella, with a name which may be adopted 
hereafter, if the characters should be considered sufficiently 
important to constitute a genus. : 
An annual plant, extremely variable in appearance, 
being sometimes only a span in height, and simple, 
with the flowers overtopped by the leaves, or sometimes 
branched, growing to the height of a foot, or a foot and 
a half, with the whorls of flowers on long stalks. Stem 
angular. Leaves quite smooth, the radical ones obovate 
or spatulate, and entire; the cauline ones broadly ovate, 
sessile, somewhat toothed; the floral ones linear-oblong. 
Flowers moncecious, whorled; whorls cymose, 2-parted ; 
the male flowers the largest. Bractee multifid, pubescent, 
with subulate, coloured segments. Ovarium pubescent, 
ovate, one-celled, with two wings in front, caused by the 
opening of two other cells, which are abortive. Calyx 
a straight entire margin. Corolla flesh-coloured, some- 
times greenish, 2-lipped, 5-fid, with oblong, obtuse seg- 
ments; tube gibbous in front, with a short bent blunt spur 
at the base. Stamens 3. Cypsele downy, cartilaginous, 
with two wings, the wings formed out of the open empty 
cells, and involute. 
J. kh. 
