404 Order 68.— VALERIANACEJE. 



plant varying in size from 1 to 2' to as many feet, found in swamps, &c, N. Y. to 

 La. Lvs. £' in length, apparently connate from the stipules adhering to each 

 side of the petiole. Stip. 2-cleft into narrow, subulate divisions. Cal. in 4 deep, 

 leafy divisions, which are much longer than tho white, rotate corolla. Statu, 

 nearly exserted. Sty. very short. Caps, opening crosswise. Jn. — Sept. (Hed- 

 yotis Ell.) 



2 O. Boscii. St. erect, diffusely branched ; lvs. lance-linear, acute, attenuated 

 to a petiole, J. -veined; stip. 2-pointed each side; fls. axillary, sessile, 1 to 3 to- 

 gether; cor. shorter than the triangular- subulate calyx teeth, which are shorter 

 than the roundish capsule. — 11 Borders of ponds, <fcc, Car. to La. Sts. 6 to 10' 

 high. Lvs. 1' by 1 to 2". Cor. purplish. Jl. — Sept. (Hedyotis DC.) 



3 O. Halcei, with pentamerous fls., a prostrate, succulent perennial, found by Dr. 

 Hale on the Red River, La., may yet be found E. of the Miss. 



Order LXVIIL— VALERIANACEJS. Valerians. 



Herbs with opposite leaves and no stipules. Calyx adherent, tho limb either mem- 

 branous or resembling a pappus. Corolla tubular or funnel-form, 4 to 5-lobed, 

 sometimes spurred at base. Stamens distinct, inserted into the corolla tube, alter- 

 nate with, and general^ fewer than its lobes. Ovary inferior, with one perfect 

 cell and two abortivo ones. Seeds solitary, pendulous, in a dry, indehiscent 

 pericarp. 



Genera 12, species 185, widely diffused in temperate climates. Tho true valerian of tho 

 shops, used in hysteria, epilepsy, &c, is a product of Valeriana officinalis. The roots of several 

 other species possess a heavy odor, anil are tonic, antispasmodic, febrifugal, &c. The spikenard 

 (John xii. 8, <fcc). of old, valued as a perfume and a stimulant, is from the root of Nardostachys 

 Jatamansi. 



1. VALERIANA, L. Valerian. (To King Valerius, a patron and 

 friend of botanists.) Calyx limb at first very small, involute, at length 

 evolving a plumous pappus; corolla funnel-form, regular, 5 -cleft ; stam- 

 ens 3 ; fruit 1-cclled, 1-seeded. — 2£ Lvs. opposite, mostly pinnate! y 

 divided. Fls. in close cymes. 



* Leaves and leaflets broad, somewhat ovate Nos. 1, 2 



* Leaves and leaflets narrow and nearly linear Nos. 3, 4 



1 V. pauciflora Mx. Glabrous,, erect or decumbent, often stoloniferous at base, 

 radical lvs. ovate, cordate, slightly acuminate, on long petioles, crenate-serrate, 

 cauline, 3 to 7 -parted ; lfts. ovate, terminal one much the largest ; cymules few- 

 flowered, corymbous; corolla Mte long (7 to 8"), and slender. — Ohio to Va. and 

 Tenn. St. mostly simple, 1 to 2f high. Lvs. of the succors mostly undivided, 

 1 to If by f to 1?V, petioles 1 to 4' long. Els. pale purple or white. Jn., Jl. 



2 V. sylvatica L. St. erect, striate, simple; radical lvs. ovate or subspatulate 

 (never cordate), undivided ; cauline one pinnately divided ; segm. ovate-lanceolate, 

 entire or subserrate, tho terminal one often dentate; cor. short (3 to 4''); fr. 

 ovate, compressed, smooth. — St. 1 to 2f high. Swamps, Vt. to Mich., very rare. 

 Lvs. eiliate with scattered hairs, those of the root petioled, sometimes auriculato 

 at base, those of the stem with 4 to 8 lateral segm. and a large terminal one. 

 Els. numerous, rose-colored, appearing in July. 



3 V. ectulis Nutt. Simple, smooth, and somewhat fleshy; rt. lvs. linear, spatu- 

 late, entire, tho cauline pinnately cleft into 3 to 1 lance-linear, acute segm., mar- 

 gins densely and minutely eiliate, mostly attenuated to the base, panicle com- 

 pound; cor. short (2 to 3"); fr. compressed, 4-ribbed, crowned with the late cal. 

 limb of 10 or 12 plumous setBe. — Low grounds, Can., Wis., Ohio. Rt. yellowish, 

 fusiform. St. 1 to 3f high. Rt. lvs. many, 3 to 8' long, segm. 2 to 4" wide. 

 Fls. white, in a dense panicle which is greatly expanded in fruit. Jn. — The 

 fleshy root is said to be cooked and eaten by tho Indians. (V. ciliata T. & G.) 



4 V- officinalis L. Valerian. Lvs. all pinnate; lfts. lance-linear or lan- 

 ceolate, the lateral and terminal similar, nearly entire; cor. small, short (2"), in 

 a crowded, compound cyme. — From Europe. It yields tho valerian of tho shop3. 



