VALERIANACE^ 



37 



whitish stripe from the middle of the base to the 

 tip ; the hindwings are black, bordered and banded 

 with pale pink. 



The Sweet-scented Woodruff (Asperula odorata) 

 is an erect plant with whorled leaves, considerably 

 resembling the Madder, and with small white 

 flowers. It is a common plant, and is used in 

 Germany to flavour Rhine Cup, a favourite summer 

 drink in that country. 



Among important foreign plants of this Order 

 we may mention three in particular. 



The Coffee Tree {Coffea arabica) is an ever- 

 green, bearing white flowers in the axils of the 

 leaves, which are succeeded by red berries 

 resembling cherries. They contain two seeds 

 surrounded by a parchment-like skin, which are 

 known as " coffee-beans." Coffee is grown in 

 Arabia, its native country, and also in Ceylon, 

 the Sunda Islands, Brazil, and other tropical 

 countries. 



Its chief use in medicine is as an antidote in 

 cases of narcotic (especially opium) poisoning. 



Several species of evergreen trees belonging to 



the genus Cinchona are found in the Andes of 

 South America, and are cultivated in the mountains 

 of India and elsewhere for their yield of "Peruvian 

 Bark," from which quinine, one of the most valu- 

 able medicines in cases of fever, especially of the 

 intermittent type, is prepared. It is a bitter tonic, 

 and is much used as such in cases of debility 

 arising from illness or overwork. It cannot, how- 

 ever, be used in all cases, for in some patients it 

 causes severe headache. 



Another important shrub belonging to this Order 

 is Cephaelis Ipecacuanha, a Brazilian plant, from the 

 roots of which the valuable medicine known as 

 Ipecacuanha is prepared. Ipecacuanha is especially 

 useful in small doses as an expectorant, and in 

 larger doses as an emetic. 



Order XLIII. Valerianacecz (3 genera) 



The flowers are tubular at the base, with 5 petals, 

 and not more than 3 stamens inserted in the tube. 

 The ovary is 3 -celled, but only 1 cell contains a 

 dry seed. 



