20 FLOWERS OF THE BOGS AND MARSHES 



The Valerian is 1-2 ft. high. It flowers in May and July. It is 

 a deciduous, herbaceous plant increased by division. 



The honey is secreted in a small pouch with a green, fleshy ring 

 .', mm. from the base of the tube. The flowers are dioecious, stamens 

 and pistils being on different plants, and are usually cross-pollinated. 

 The male flowers are larger than the female, and are the first to 

 be visited; but the female open first according to Kerner. The tube 

 in the male plant is 2^ to 3^ mm. long, wider above; the female is only 

 i mm., and the honey is accessible to short- lipped insects. The 

 capitulum or head of the flower is not as conspicuous as in l^. offici- 

 nal is. It flowers so early that the plant is exposed to much less 

 competition. Insects are numerous but not varied. There are 4 kinds 

 of flowers: i, male flower without rudiment of pistil and large corolla; 

 2, male flower with rudimentary pistil and smaller corolla; 3, female 

 (lower with traces of anthers and still smaller corollas; 4, female flower 

 with scarcely any trace of anthers and very small corollas. It is visited 

 by . I pis nielli fica, Andrciia albic-ans, Eristalis arbnstornni, Rhingia 

 rostrata, Tipula, Picris napi, Meligethes. 



The calyx of the fruit is provided with feathery hairs which aid in 

 wind dispersal. 



This Valerian is addicted to wet land, and a peat-loving plant, re- 

 quiring a more or less peaty habitat, such as that of a marsh or bog. 



Two little fungi may be discovered parasitic upon it. They are 

 ( 'roiuyces I 'alcriamc and Synchytrium anreum. A Thysanopterous 

 insect, Phltrothrips albif>cnnis, and a moth, Dcprcssaria pulchcriiuclla 

 feed upon it. 



\\ilcriana may be from the Latin valcrc, tc be powerful or well, 

 because.' of its medicinal effects, and the second Latin name refers to its 

 (lid-clous character. 



This plant is an ornamental plant. It has been used for hysteria. 

 Cats are fond of it, and rat-catchers also employ it. 



K-M.NTIAI. Si'Kcinc CHARACTERS: 



145. Valcriana dioica, L. Stem erect, radical leaves ovate, petio- 

 late, stem-leaves pinnatifid, with terminal lobe, plants imperfectly 

 dioecious, flowers white or rose-coloured, staminate flowers larger. 



Cranberry (Oxycoccus palustris, Pers. = O. quadripetala, Gilib.) 



Though an Arctic plant the Cranberry has not been found in any 

 early deposits. At the present day it occurs in the North Temperate 

 and Arctic Zones in Arctic Europe, but not in Turkey, in N. Asia, and 



