36 FEDIA. [CLASS ill, 



are remarkably fond of these roots; they chew them, roll and rub, 

 themselves on them, and for a time appear intoxicated under their 

 influence. The effect is no less remarkable upon rats, and the root is 

 used by rat-catchers in the same way as oil of anise, to allure them to 

 take their poisonous compounds. 



4. V. Pyrena'ica, Linn. (Fig. 49.) heart-leaved Valerian. Corolla 

 gibbous at the base ; leaves large, heart-shaped, toothed, serrated, 

 smooth, petiolated, upper ones pinnate, with one or two pairs of 

 small lanceolate leaflets. 



English Botany, t. 1591. English Flora, vol. i. p. 44. Liudley, 

 Synopsis, p. 138. Hooker, British Flora, vol. i. p. 23. 



Stem two or three feet high, furrowed, hollow, downy below the 

 insertions of the upper leaves. The root and lower stem leaves mostly 

 simple, heart-shaped, acute, stalked, unequally toothed, and some- 

 times serrated, smooth, the upper leaves pinnate, the terminal leaflet 

 ovato-lanceolate, the lateral ones narrower. The stalks, veins, and 

 margins of the upper leaves mostly downy. Flowers in dense com- 

 pound terminal corymbs. Corolla slightly gibbous at the base, light 

 rose-colour, in shady situations nearly white, its margin divided into 

 five segments. Capsule ribbed, but longer and narrower than those 

 of the above species, as is also the solitary seed. 



Habitat. Abundant in the woods near Bretton Hall, Yorkshire 

 and in various places in Scotland; Campsey Glen, and woods near 

 Glasgow ; Collington and Abercorn Wood, near Edinburgh ; but 

 probably escaped from gardens. " It is peculiar, I believe, to the Py- 

 renees." Hook. 



Perennial; flowering in June and July. 



GENUS II. FE'DIA. VAHL. Corn-Salad. 

 Nat. Ord. VALERIA'NEJE. 



GEN. CHAR. Calyx of three to five unequal teeth, first very small, at 

 length crowning the fruit. Corolla of one petal, gibbous at the 

 base, the limb of five unequal segments. Capsule indehescent, of 

 one fertile and two abortive cells. The meaning of the word 

 Fedia is not satisfactorily known. " Fedia is derived from Fedus; 

 an ancient word synonymous with Hcedus, a kid, is not unsuitable 

 to this genus." Smith. 



1. F. olito'ria, Vahl. (Fig. 50.) common Corn-Salad, or Lamb's 

 Lettuce. Flowers capitate, capsule smooth, inflated, subglobose, 

 crowned with three small teeth of the calyx ; leaves oblong, obtuse. 



English Botany, t. 811. English Flora, vol. i. p. 45, Hooker, Bri- 

 tish Flora, vol. i.p. 23. Valerianel'la oftto'ria,Lin.dley, Synopsis, p. 



