VALliUIAX. 105 



VALERIAN. Valeriajia. 



Natural Order Aggregatce. Dipsace^e and VaUriances, 

 Juss: a Genus of the Triandria Monogynia Class. 



*' Gay loosetrife there and pale Valerian spring." 



Scott. 



It seems a matter of doubt with some writers 

 whether the Red Valerian of our gardens, Vale- 

 riam Rubra, be an aboriginal of our soil. The 

 British botanist and the Hortus Kewensis claim 

 it as a native plant, although it is not acknow- 

 ledged as such by Gerard, Parkinson, Ray, and 

 other old writers. We are disposed to consider 

 it' an exotic of early introduction, and principally 

 on account of the situations where 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 culti- 

 vated. The Red Valerian was observed by Dr. 

 Sibthorp on the walls of Merton College, Ox- 

 ford. Mr. Martyn found it growing abundantly 

 on Merton Abbey walls, in Surry. Mr. Relham 

 notices it at Coton and Babraham, as well as on 



