290 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



39. The Valerian Group. 



In the order ValerianacCce in the British Isles there 

 are three types — the Valerians, the Spur Valerian, 

 and the Lamb's Lettuce type. One of each of these 

 is described. In the first the corolla-tube is equal 

 or swollen^ and there are three stamens ; in the 

 second the corolla-tube is spurred and there is one 

 stamen ; in the third the calyx is tubular or lobed (in 

 the two former it is pappose), and the corolla-tube is 

 inversely conical. 



There are over two hundred species of this group, 

 included in eight genera. They are natives in 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, and America, but chiefly natives 

 of the North Temperate Zone. The group shows 

 affinity with the Teasel group and the Dandelion 

 group. 



The plants of this order are herbaceous and rarely 

 shrubs. The leaves are opposite, without stipules. 



The flowers are small, generally irregular, asym- 

 metrical, hermaphrodite, or unisexual, usually in 

 cymose panicles, which are dichotomous, repeatedly 

 branching into two forks. 



The calyx is superior, the limb membranous, or 

 pappose, developing a pappus in the fruiting stage, 

 involute in bud. The corolla is gamopetalous, tubular, 

 funnel-shaped, the base equal, swollen, or spurred, 

 with five unequal teeth, blunt, overlapping in bud. 

 The disc is small. The stamens are epipetalous, 

 inserted at the base of the tube of the corolla, 



