ILLUSTRATIONS OF INDIAN BOTANY. 85 



of several genera natives of these mountains. They are also common in Europe but mo!?t 

 abound in the extratropical portions of South America, especially on the range of mountains 

 which bound the western coast of that continent, hence they are very abundant on the 

 mountains of Chili. In North America and Africa they are very rare, and in 

 have not yet been found. 



Australia 



Properties and Uses. The roots of several of the perennial species of Valerian espe- 

 cially V. officinalis have at different times been extolled on account of there aromatic and 

 antispasmodic virtues, more particularly for the cure of some forms of Epilepsy and Hysteria. 

 Like many other useful medicines they have fallen into considerable disrepute owing to being 

 administered indiscriminately in all forms of those diseases, without reference to their origin, 

 and, because they proved powerless in incurable forms, were soon pronounced InefFicient in all. 

 In this instance the degradation has not gone so far as this, as Tincture of Valerian is still 

 prescribed in various forms of nervous diseases, and, upon the whole, its claims to this distinc- 

 tion seem well founded. 



Its stimulating and aromatic properties have also led to its administration, in combina- 

 tion with Bark, for the cure of intermittent fever. 



Viewing the first stage of the paroxysm of an Intermittent fever as the very concentra- 

 tion of nervous disease in which almost every voluntary muscle of the body is more or less 

 intensely subjected to spasmodic action, I should imagine this a very useful combination 

 in situations where the more powerful quinine and morphia were not obtainable. But 

 when these are to be had, I presume no judicious practitioner would load his patieufs 

 stomach with the bulky, nauseous, doses of the substance of these medicines which would 

 be required to ward off the paroxysm of an ague. Chemistry has not, so far as I am 

 aware, discovered whether the tonic and antispasmodic virtues of Valerian are concentrated, 

 like those of Cinchona and Opium,' in an alkaloid base. Should such prove to be the 

 case, I apprehend that, in combination with quinine, it will prove a valuable addition to 

 our materia medica, but if not, it is not probable the original will rise in the estimation 

 of modern practitioners, though it has maintained its reputation, ever since the days of 

 Dioscorides, who flourished during the first century of the present era. 



The roots of other species are esteemed among Oriental nations for their fragrance, and 

 are employed as cosmetics, and to perfume their baths. In the Levant V. celtica is largely 

 consumed for^ these purposes, and the Nard or Spikenard of the ancients, a native of the 

 Himalayas, has been celebrated from the most ancient times, for both its fragrance and 

 medicinal virtues. The plant which produces this root long eluded the researches of the 

 learned, but was at length traced by Sir William Jones to the Indian Jatamanpi, after 

 which the subsequent steps of the inquiry were comparatively easy, and were most satis- 

 factorily followed up by Dr. Royle, who succeeded in purchasing a quantity of the root 

 in a sufficiently fresh state to grow on being replanted. A figure of the plant, so ob- 

 tained, he has published in his Illustrations of the Botany of the Himalaya Mountains, and 

 thereby effectually set the question at rest. The plant forms the type of a distinct genus 

 which has received the name of Nardostachys^ the species retaining its Indian name. 

 N. Jatamansi^ of modern Botanists, is therefore the far-famed Spikenard of the ancients. 



r 



Remarks on Genera and Species. Under this head I have nothing to offer. My 

 acquaintance with the Order being very limited, having had so few opportunities of making 

 myself acquainted with its peculiarities. 



-fr. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE 129. 



1. Valeriana Hookeriana. Natural size. 6. Ovary before the evolution of the involute lobes of 



2. Fascicle of 2 flower-buds and bracts, one near 

 expansioa 



stigm 

 fruit, showing 



3, of 2 flowers, one full blown* lobes fully evolved 



4. Corolla split open, showing 

 stamens. 



transversely 



9. Cut vertically, showing the solitary, pendulous seed. 

 5, Anthers, back and front views- 10. Embryo detached. 



