120 GAMOPETALOUS EXOGENS 



ORDER XLIX. VALERIANA V CEAE. 



Herbs; leaves opposite, without stipules ; calyx-tube adherent to the ovary; cm-diet 

 tubular, mostly 5-lobed; stamens fewer than the corolla-lobes (usually 2 or 3), in- 

 serted on the tube; stigmas 1 to 3; fruit dry, indehiscent, 1- to 3-celled, by abor- 

 tion 1-seeded; seed suspended, destitute of albumen. 



183. FE V DIA, Gaertn. 



[Etymology obscure; supposed to be derived from the Latin, Haedtu, a kid.] 

 Calyx-teeth 3 to 5, or obsolete. Fruit 3-celled, 2 of the cells empty, 

 the other 1-seeded, cellular-gibbous on the back. Leaves spatulate- 

 oblong; flowers in dense cy mules. 



1. F. olitoria, Vahl. Fruit compressed, oblique, the fertile cell 



with a corky mass at the back, the sterile ones often confluent ; 



flowers pale blue. 



Valerianella radiata. DC. $ Fl. Cestr. ed. 2. p. 11. 



PQT-HERB FEDIA. Lamb's Lettuce. Corn-Salad. 



Annual. Stem 4 to 12 inches high, dichotomously branching. Leaves half an 

 Jnch to 2 inches long, sessile, subdentate, somewhat ciliate on the margin. Fruit 

 finally broader than long. 

 Jfab. Meadow banks, and roadsides. Nat. of Europe. FL May. Fr. June. 



Obs. A similar plant, with milk-white flowers, is occasionally seen, 

 which is supposed to be the true F. radiata. 



ORDER L. DIPSA V CEAE. 



Herbs; leaves mostly opposite, without stipules, ; flowers in dense involucrate heads; 

 calyx-tube adherent to the ovary, the border entire, or toothed; corolla tubular, 

 4- or 6-lobed ; stamens mostly 4, distinct ; style filiform ; stigma simple ; fruit akene- 

 like, 1-celled, 1-seeded ; seed pendulous : embryo nearly as long as the fleshy albu- 

 tnen, 



184. DIP'SACUS, Tournef. 



[Gr. dipsao, to thirst; the stem-leaves holding water at their junction.] 

 Involucre many-leaved, longer than the bracts (or subfoliaceous 

 ehaff) of the receptacle : Florets each with a 4-sided calyx-like invol- 

 ttcel closely investing the ovary and fruit. Jlorder of the calyx 

 ininute, cup-shaped, entire. Corolla with 4 erect lobes. Stout bien- 

 Viials: leaves often connate; heads ovoid-oblong, the florets com- 

 mencing to open in a ring about the middle of the head, and 

 proceeding in opposite directions ! 



1. D. sylvgstris, Mill. Leaves lance-oblong, serrate ; involucre longer 

 than the head ; bracts straight and flexible. 

 WILD DIPSAOUS. Wild Teasel. 



Stem 3 to 5 feet high, branched, angular and prickly. Radical leaves 8 to 12 

 inches long, crenate; stent-leares 3 or 4 to 6 or 8 inches long, sessile, subconnate; 

 all more or less prickly on the midrib, and sometimes on the margin. Leaves of 

 Uw, involucre unequal, lance-linear, curved upward and inward, pungent at apex. 

 Heads of flowers ovoid-oblong, 2 to 3 inches in length ; corolla pale purple. Bracts 

 (or chaff of the receptacle} oblong-cuneate, keeled, abruptly tapering into a straight 

 flexible awn-like acumination, longer than the florets. 

 Hab. Roadsides ; fence-rows, Ac. Nat. of Europe. FL July. Fr. Sept. 



Obs. This foreigner is rather abundant, in some localities, and 

 g a coarse worthless weed, requires the attention of the farmer 



