404 ORDER 68. VALERIANACB^E. 



plant varying in size from 1 to 2' to as many feet, found in swampa, 4c., N". Y. to 

 La. Lvs. V in length, apparently connate from the stipules adhering to each 

 side of the "petiole. Stip. 2 -cleft into narrow, subulate divisions. Cal. in 4 deep, 

 leafy divisions, which are much longer than the white, rotate corolla. Stam. 

 nearly exserted. Sty. very abort. Caps, opening crosswise. Jn. Sept. (Hed- 

 yotis Ell.) 



2 O. Boscii. St. erect, diffusely branched ; Iva. lance-linear, acute, attenuated 

 to a petiole, 1-veined ; stip. 2-pointed each side ; fls. axillary, sessile, 1 to 3 to- 

 gether; cor. shorter than the triangular-subulate calyx teeth, which are shorter 

 than the roundish capsule. If Borders of ponds, &c., Car. to La. Sts. 6 to 10' 

 high. Lvs. 1' by 1 to 2". Cor. purplish. Jl. Sept. (Hedyotis DC.) 



3 O. Halaei, with pentamerous fls., a prostrate, succulent perennial, found by Dr. 

 Hale on the Red River, La., may yet be fouud E. of the Miss. 



ORDER LXVIII. VALERIANACE^E. VALERIANS. 



Herbs with opposite leaves and no stipules. Calyx adherent, the limb either mem- 

 branous or resembling a pappus. Corolla tubular or funnel-form, 4 to 5-lobed, 

 sometimes spurred at base. Stamens distinct, inserted into the corolla tube, alter- 

 nate with, and generally fewer than its lobes. Ovary inferior, with one perfect 

 cell and two abortive ones. Seeds solitary, pendulous, in a dry, indehiscent 

 pericarp. 



Genera 12, species 185, widely diffused in temperate climates. The true valerian of the 

 shops, used in hysteria, epilepsy, &c., is ;i product ot'Valeriana officinalis. The roots of several 

 Other species possess a heavy odor, and are tonic, antispasmodic, febrifugal, &c. The spikenard 

 (John xii. 3, &c). of old, valued as a perfume and a stimulant, is from the root of Nardostachys 

 rfatamansi. 



1. VALERIA'NA, L. VALERIAN. (To King Valerius, a patron and 

 friend of botanists.) Calyx limb at first very small, involute, at length 

 evolving a plumous pappus; corolla funnel-form, regular, 5-cleft ; stam- 

 ens 3 ; fruit 1-celled, l-seeded.-^-2 Lvs. opposite, mostly pinnately 

 divided. Fls. in close cymes. 



* Leaves and leaflets broad, somewhat ovate Xos. 1, 2 



* Leaves and leaflets narrow and nearly linear Nos. 3, 4 



1 V. pauciflora MX. Glabrous, erect or decumbent, often stoloniferous at base, 

 radical Ivs. ovate, cordate, slightly acuminate, on long petioles, crenate-serrate, 

 cauline, 3 to 7 -parted; Ifts. ovate, terminal one much the largest; cymules few- 

 flowered, corymbous; corolla tube long (1 to 8''), and slender. Ohio to Va. and 

 Tenn. St. mostly simple, 1 to 2f high. Lvs. of the succors mostly undivided, . 

 1 to If by J to 1^', petioles 1 to 4' long. Fls. pale purple or white. Jn., JL 



2 V. sylvatica L. St. erect, striate, simple; radical Ivs. ovate or subspatulate 

 (never cordate), undivided ; cauline one pinnately divided ; segtn. ovate-lanceolate, 

 entire or subserrate, the terminal one often dentate; cor. short (3 to 4') ; fr. 

 ovate, compressed, smooth. St. 1 to 2f high. Swamps, Vt. to Mich., very rare. 

 Lvs. ciliate with scattered hairs, those of the root petioled, sometimes auriculate 

 at base, those of tho stem with 4 to 8 lateral segm. and a largo terminal one. 

 Fls. numerous, rose-colored, appearing in July. 



3 V. edulis Nutt. Simple, smooth, and somewhat fleshy; rt. Ivs. linear, spatu- 

 late, entire, the cauline pinuately cleft into 3 to 7 lance-linear, acute segm., mar- 

 gins densely and minutely ciliate, mostly attenuated to the base, panicle com- 

 pound; cor. short (2 to 3"); fr. compressed, 4-ribbed, crowned with tho late cal. 

 limb of 10 or 12 plumous set*e. Low grounds, Can., Wis., Qhio. Rt. yellowish, 

 fusiform. St. 1 to 3f high. Rt. Ivs. many, 3 to 8' long, segm. 2 to 4" wide. 

 Fls. white, in a dense panicle which is greatly expanded in fruit. Jn. Tho 

 fleshy root is said to be cooked and eaten by tho Indians. (V. ciliata T. & G.) 



4 V. officinalis L. VALERIAN. Lvs. all pinnate; Ifls. lance-linear or lan- 

 ceolate, the lateral and terminal similar, nearly entire; cor. small, .short (2"), in 

 a crowded, compound cyme. From Europe. It yields tho valerian of the shops. 



