164 DICOTYLEDONOUS PLANTS. 



1. VALERIANELLA. Matnch. De Cand. 



Calyx with the limb toothed and persistent. Carol not cnl- 

 carate, regulnr, 5-lobed. Statncns 5. Stigmas scarcely divided 

 or trifid. Fruit 3-celled, submenlbrannceous, indehiscent, 

 crowned by the limb of the calyx ; 1 or 2 of the cells only 

 fertile. l^riandria. Monogynia. 



V. radiata De Cand. : leaves spathulate-oblong, nearly entire, atten- 

 uate at base ; fruit oblong, smooth, somewhat 4-sided. Fedia radiata 

 Mich. Fursh. Torr. 



HAB. Fields. N. Y. to Caar. W. to Miss. May. .r-Stem 

 a foot high, dichotomous. Leaves opposite. Flowers small, 

 pale blue, in fasligiate corymbs, with lanceolate bracts at base. 



Wild iMml Lettuce. 



2. VALERIANA. De Cand. 



Calyx with the limb involute, nt length evolved in a deci- 

 duous plumose pnppus. Corol with the tube obconic or cy- 

 lindric, equal or gibbous at base, limb obtusely, 5-clefl. Sta- 

 men? 3. Fruit indehiscent, 1 -celled, 1-seeded. 



Triandria. Monogynia. 



V. syhatica Rich. ? : flowers triandrous, perfect ; cauline leaves pin- 

 nate, acute ; radical ones oblong, entire. 



HAB. Spagnous swamps, near Fairhaven, Ver. June, July. If. 

 Root consisting of numerous long fibres, having the odour and 

 probably the medicinal properties of V. officinalis. Stem 2 3 

 feet high, simple, smooth, erect. Radical leaves on long peti- 

 oles, usually simple, but sometimes lobed at base, varying from 

 lanceolate, to ovate add subcordate ; stem leaves pinnate ; leaf- 

 ets in 46 pairs with an odd one, ovate oval or somewhat rhom- 

 boidal, coarsely but sometimes very sparingly toothed. Flowers 

 numerous, reddish- white, perfect, in a large and dense dichoto- 

 mous corymb. Corol gibbous at baSe, 5-cleft. Stamens and 

 pistil mucn exserted. Capsule ribbed, as long as the narrow and 

 hispid bracts. This plant agrees very well with the short des- 

 cription given by Dr. Richardson ( App. to Frank. Jour.} of V. 

 sylratica, a IICAV species found in Arctic America and Newfound- 

 land, but it may prove distinct. From V. paucijlora it appears 

 to differ, although I have had no opportunity of comparing spe- 

 cimens. It was first discovered by Dr. Robbins at the above lo- 

 cality, where I have since found it growing abundantly. 



ORDER LXVI. DIPSACE^. De Cand. Lind. 



Calyx with a limb short or elongated, entire or toothed, or 

 pappose. Corol tubular, inserted into the calyx ; limb oblique, 

 4 5-lobed, with an imbricate aestivation. Stamens usually 

 4 or 5, alternate with the lobes of the corol ; anthers distinct. 



