DIPSACE^. 179 FKDIA. 



1. VALERIA'NA. 



Calyx at first very small, at length forming a plumose pap- 

 pus ; corolla funnel-forni, regular, 5-cleft; stamens 3; fruit 

 1-celled, Iseeded. 



Lat. valere, to be well ; on account of its salutary medicinal properties. 

 Perennial herbs, with the flowers in close cymes. 



1. V. SYLVA'tICA. p. uliginosa. 



Stern erect, striate, simple ; radical leaves ovate or subspathulato, undivided, 

 cauline ones pinnately divided, segments ovate-lanceolate, entire or subser- 

 rate; the terminal one often dentate ; /oic.vof the stigma minute, 2 or 3 ; fruit 

 ovate, compressed, smooth. Stem 1 — 2 feet high. Swamps. The plant is 

 nearly smooth, leaves ciliate with scattered hairs. Those of the root petioled, 

 sometimes auriculate at base, those of the stem with 4 — 8 lateral segments 

 and a large terminal one. Flowers numerous, rose-colored, appearing in 

 July. Ji'iid Valerian. 



2. V. Phu. 



Radkal leaves entire, cauline ones pinnate ; stem smooth and slender. Na- 

 tive of Germany. Cultivated for its medicinal virtues, it being administered 

 for hysteria, habitual costiveness, &c. Cats are singularly delighted with the 

 roots. The Arabic name of this plant is Phu. Grows about 3 feet high. 

 Flowers white. May — July. Garden Valerian. 



V. affici.nalis, great valerian, has all the leaves pinnate. Virtues similar to 

 the last. V. tuherosa, has tuberous roots and entire, lanceolate ladical leaves. 



2. FE'DIA. 

 Calyx limb 3 — 6-toothed and persistent, or obsolete; cor- 

 olla tubular, 5-lobed, regular; stamens 2 or 3; fruit 2 or 3- 

 celled, l-seeded. 



An arbitrary name apparently without meaning. Annual herbs with op- 

 posite, sessile leaves. One or two cells of the fruit abortive. 



F. FaGOPY'ruM. T. 4- G. Valerianella radiata. Beck. 



Stem dichotomous, nearly smooth; leaves oblong-spathulate, subentire; 

 fruit 3sided, obscurely 2 — 3-toothed at the summit. Western N. Y., &c. 

 Stem 8 — 18 inches in hight. Bracts lanceolate, acute. Fruit resembling 

 that of bucii-wheat (Polygonum Fagopyrum) in form, containing one large 

 seed and two empty cells. Flowers white. June. 



Corn Salad. Lamb Lettuce. 



ORDER LXXV. DIPSACEJ^. The Teasel Tribe. 



Cat. — Adherent, often pappus-like, surrounded by a scarious involucel. 



Cor. — Tubular, somewhat irregular, the limb 4— 5-parted. 



Sta. — 1, alternate with the lobes of the corolla, often unequal. Anthers disthict. 



Ova. — Inferior, one-celled, one-ovuled. Style one, simple. 



Fr. — Dry, indeliiscent, with a single suspended seed. 



Herbs or low shrubs, with whorled or opposite leaves. Flowers collected upon a com- 

 mon receptacle and surrounded by a many-leaved involucre. The order is nearly allied 

 to the Composilre. The species are all natives of the temperate regions of the Eastern con- 

 tinent, none of them American. Their properties are unimportant. One of the species 

 below is uselul in dressing cloth. 



