292 THE SrORY OF PLANT LIFE 



the memory, for the study of things to-day is so 

 much more detailed than in the past that some such 

 aide-memoire becomes virtually a necessity. 



Marsh Valerian may be found in most of our 

 English counties and in South Scotland, but it is 

 rare further north. It is not found in Ireland. In 

 Northumberland it is to be found at the high altitude 

 of 2000 ft. But this is a frequent characteristic of 

 moisture-loving plants. 



Bogs, marshes, wet meadows, are the habitats of 

 this plant, which is a hygrophile or plant which is 

 adapted to moist conditions. In general, such plants 

 have broad leaves, and are fleshy or luxuriant, with 

 large and tall stems and abundant foliage. The 

 plant is also found in damp situations as part of the 

 ground flora of oakwoods where the sessile oak is 

 predominant on siliceous soils. 



With it grow Marsh Marigold, Red Campion, 

 Woodsorrel, Bush Vetch, Water Avens, Meadow- 

 sweet, Golden Saxifrage, Sanicle, Angelica, Butter- 

 bur, Wood Loosestrife, Knotted Figwort, Bugle, 

 Rushes, Sedges, etc. In moist ashwoods it is also 

 found on limestone soils, and in limestone swamps. 

 It is found also in the fen formation. 



The Marsh Valerian is erect in habit. The root- 

 stock sends forth creeping or running stolons and 

 erect flowering stems. 



The stems are ascending, and simple. The radical 

 leaves are long-stalked, ovate, or spoon-shaped, 

 entire ; the stem-leaves are divided nearly to the base, 



