34 VA1ERUNA. [CLASS m. OEDIB 1. 



purpose of improving the flavour of mutton. This grass alone does not 

 appear grateful to cattle, but is so when combined with other species. 

 It is most valuable in permanent grazing pastures, especially in the 

 latter part of the season, as it continues until that period to throw out 

 luxuriant stems and leaves. 



CLASS III. 



TRIANDRIA. 3 STAMENS. 



ORDER I. 



MONOGYN'IA. 1 PISTIL. 



GENUS I. VALERIA'NA. Valerian. 

 Nat. Ord. VALERIA 'NE.E. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx superior, a thick slightly crenated margin, ulti- 

 mately expanding into a feathery pappus. Corolla of one petal, 

 tubular, the limb five cleft, gibbous or spurred on one side at the 

 base. Fruit single-seeded, surrounded at the top with the feathery 

 pappus. The derivation of the name is differently given by au- 

 thors : it is probably from valeo, to be powerful ; on account of its 

 powerful medicinal properties. 



* Flowers with one stamen. 



1. V. ru'bra, Linn. (Fig. 46.) red Valerian. Tube of the corolla 

 long, with a long spur at the base; leaves ovato-lanceolate. 



English Botany, t. 1531. English Flora, vol. i. p. 42. Hooker, 

 British Flora, vol. i. p. 22. Centran'thus ru'bra, DeCandolle. Lind- 

 ley, Synopsis, p. 138. 



The whole plant smooth, rather glaucous, from one to two feet high, 

 with branching leafy stems. Leaves opposite, entire, or toothed, sessile, 

 Flowers scentless, in numerous unilateral cymose spikes, each flower 

 with a pair of opposite bractea about the length of the spur. Corolla 

 rose-colour, rarely white. Fruit crowned with the involute pappus. 



Habitat. Old walls and waste places. Matlock, apparently wild 

 Mr. Bohler. Chalk pits in Kent, plentiful. 



Perennial ; flowering from June to September. 



This species is probably the outcast of gardens, but is now not un- 

 common in waste uncultivated places, and on old walls. It is a very 



