VALERIAN TRIBE. 311 



and some, thus employed in the 12th century, on being 

 removed from the cere-cloth in the present century and 

 planted, have vegetated. The roots of our common 

 Valerian, V. officindlis, are still used in medicine ; their 

 effect on cats is very remarkable, producing a kind of 

 intoxication. The young leaves of Fedia olitoria 

 (Lamb's Lettuce) are eaten as salad, and those of 

 Centranthus ruber (Red Valerian) are, in Sicily, eaten in 

 the same way. 



1. CENTRANTHUS (Spur Valerian). Corolla 5-cleft, 

 spurred at the base ; stamen 1 ; fruit crowned with a 

 feathery pappus. (Name in Greek denoting "Spur- 

 flower.") 



2. VALERIANA (Valerian). Corolla 5-cleft, bulged at 

 the base ; stamens 3 ; fruit crowned with a feathery 

 pappus. (Name from the Latin valeo, to be powerful, 

 on account of its medicinal virtues.) 



3. FEIDIA (Corn-salad). Corolla 5-cleft, bulged at 

 the base ; stamens 3 ; fruit crowned with the calyx. 

 (Name of uncertain origin.) 



1. CENTRANTHUS (Spur Valerian). 



1. C. ruber (Eed Spur Valerian). Corolla spurred at 

 the base ; stamen 1 ; leaves egg-shaped, pointed. Not a 

 native plant, but nevertheless very common in lime- 

 stone quarries and chalk-pits, as well as on old garden 

 walls. The stems are 1 2 feet high ; the leaves large, 

 smooth, and glaucous ; the flowers are deep red, and grow 

 in terminal bunches. A white variety is not uncommon. 

 Fl. June September. Perennial. 



2. VALERIANA (Valerian). 



1. V. dioica (Small Marsh Valerian). Stamens and, 

 pistils on different plants : corolla bulged at the base ; 

 stamens 3 ; root leaves egg-shaped, stalked ; stem leaves 

 pinnatifid, with a large terminal lobe. Marshy ground, 

 not unfrequent. Growing about a foot high, quite erect, 



