VALEKIANACE.E. (VALEKIAX FAMILY.) 



sinuses impressed. Stameus 5, inserted near the base of the corolla: anthers 

 oblong-sagittate, extrorse. Styles united, filiform, partly persistent. Stigmas 

 4, linear, spreading. Capsule oblong, compressed, 2-celled, opening septi- 

 cidally to the middle, and loculicidally at the apex, each valve tipped with the 

 persistent base of the styles. Seeds several, oval, flat, winged, obliquely imbri- 

 cated in two rows. A smooth woody vine, with opposite evergreen leaves, 

 minute stipules, and large yellow fragrant flowers, in axillary bracted and 

 cluster-like racemes. 



1. G. sempervirens, Ait. Margins of swamps, and river banks, near 

 the coast. March - April. Stem twining, purplish. Leaves lanceolate or 

 ovate, acute orsubcordate at the base, short-petioled. Racemes few-flowered. 

 1'edicels scaly. Corolla 1' - 1$' long. 



ORDER 73. VALERIANACE^E. (VALERIAN FAMILY.) 



Ilerlis with opposite exstipulate leaves, and cyniose flowers. Calyx 

 tube adherent to the ovary. Corolla tubular or funnel-shaped, mostly 

 5-lobed, imbricated in the bud. Stamens distinct, fewer than the 

 corolla lobes, and inserted on its tube. Ovary 3-celled, two of which 

 are empty, the third containing' a single suspended anatropous ovule. 

 Style slender. Stigmas 1-3. Fruit 1 - 3-celled, 1-seeded. Albumen 

 none. 



1. VALERIAN A, Tourn. VALERIAN. 



Limb of the calyx composed of several plumose bristles, at first incurved, 

 afterward spreading. Corolla gibbous at the base, 5-lobed. Stamens 3. 

 Fruit 1 celled, 1-seeded. Perennials. 



1. V. scandens, L. Smooth; stem climbing; leaves on slender peti- 

 oles, ternately divided ; leaflets ovate, entire ; cymes paniculate, diffuse, axil- 

 lary and terminal ; corolla very short. East Florida. 



2. V. pauciflora, Michx. Smooth; stem (l-3high) erect, or de- 

 cumbent at the base, simple ; leaves membranaceous, toothed or serrate, the 

 radical ones mostly entire, ovate or cordate, long-petioled, the others p in- 

 nately 3 - 7-lobed ; cymes terminal, in a close panicle ; tube of the pale pink 

 corolla long and slender. Mountains of Tennessee, and northward. June- 

 July. 



2. VALERIANELLA, Tourn. LAMB LETTUCE. 



Calyx limb toothed or obsolete. Corolla funnel-shaped, 5-lobed. Stamens 

 3. Fruit 3-celled, two of the cells empty and sometimes confluent into one, 

 the other 1 seeded. Annual herbs, with forking stems, opposite entire or 

 lobed leaves, and white or purplish flowers in crowded bracted cymes. 



1. V. radiata, T)nfr. Leaves oblong, the upper ones clasping and 

 toothed nt the hasp; fruit mostly downy, ovoid, with a furrow between the 

 parallel and contiguous empty cells; flowers white. River banks, Florida, 

 and northward. Feb. - March. Stem 6'- 12' high. 



