VALERIAN. ISl 



VALERIAN. Valeriana. 



Natural Order Aggregates. Dipsacece and ValarianeeHy 

 Juss. A Genus of tlie Triandria Mo/iogynia Class. 



Gay Loosetrife tliere and pale Valerian spring. 



Scott. 



It seems a matter of doubt M'ith some writers 

 whether the Red Valerian of our gardens, Valeri- 

 ana Rubra, be an aboriginal of our soil. The 

 British Botanist and the Hortus Kewensis claim it 

 as a native plant, although it is not acknowledged 

 as such by Gerard, Parkinson, Ray, and other old 

 writers. We are disposed to consider it an exotic 

 of early introduction, principally on account of the 

 situations w^here it is found growing, which are 

 generally on the old walls of colleges, or on the 

 ruins of monastic buildings. Such in former days 

 were the only places where medicine was studied or 

 medicinal plants cultivated. The Red Valerian 

 was observed by Dr. Sibthorp on the walls of Mer- 

 ton College, Oxford. Mr. Martyn found it growing 

 abundantly on Merton Abbey walls, in Surry. 

 Mr. Relham notices it at Coton and Babraham, 

 as well as on Ely Minster and the walls adjoining. 



