DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FLOWERS. 379 



Uvularia perfoliata.— Perfoliate Bell-wort.— A j^lant, 

 about one foot high. Stem smooth, rouud, running 

 through the leaves, furnishing a good example of the per- 

 foliate leaves. Flowers pendulous, j^ale-yellow, in May ; 

 perennial. 



U. grandiflora. — Large-flowered Bell-wort. — Similar 

 to the foregoing, but larger ; the leaves narrower, the 

 flowers brighter yellow and smooth inside. This is one 

 of the prettiest of the genus, and Avorth cultivating; 

 hardy perennial. 



VALERIANA.-VALEmAT^. 



[Name from valere, to liave efficacy, on accoiiiit of its medicinal qualities. 1 



The species are generally ornamental garden plants of 

 easy culture in ' common earth, and preferring a shady, 

 moist situation. 



Valeriana dioica, has usually the stamens and pistils in 

 separate flowers, situated on diflferent plants. This spe- 

 cies, and VI officinalis^ are medicinal. Cats are delighted 

 with the roots, and rat-catchers employ them as they do 

 the oil of anise, to draw rats together. 



V. Phu. — Garden Valerian. — This is an esteemed bor- 

 der-flower ; perennial, growing to the height of three 

 or four feet, with large corymbs of white flowers ; highly 

 fragant ; more cultivated for that property than for their 

 beauty. 



V. Pyrenaica. — This is a handsome species with umbels 

 of light-red flowers, growing about three feet high. 



VERBASCTJM.-MuLLEm. 



[An alteration of the Latin barbascum.] 



Verbascum ThapsilS. — Common Mullein. — ^N'o doubt, 

 this species will be considered by many as hardly orna- 

 mental. Everybody knows this tall and very common 



