154 VALEBIANACE2E. 



often in corn fields in Wiltshire, and have seen it in similar 

 localities in all other counties that I have visited. (Sherardia 

 arvensis,^. 8). 



The VALEEIAN order comes next. There are foreign species 

 which, when dried, are highly odoriferous. The Spikenard 

 of Scripture is one of these. The leaves are variously used 

 in medicinal preparations. Among the Hebrews it was a 

 very costly drug : you remember that Judas valued the box 

 of ointment of Spikenard, with which Mary anointed our 

 Lord, at two hundred pence about 6 9s. 2d. of our money. 

 Spikenard was so much prized by the Romans, that Horace 

 promises Virgil several dozens of wine for one box of Spike- 

 nard. They used to anoint their guests with it. In Turkey 

 and Egypt two other species of Valerian, inhabitants of Austria, 

 are used to perfume the baths. 



The Red Valerian (Valeriana riibra, Plate X., fig. 9), grows 

 plentifully on cliffs near the sea in many places. Our specimen 

 came from Fowey, in Cornwall, where the gay rose-coloured 

 bunches of flowers make a great show, enlivening the dark 

 cliffs most charmingly. It has been sent to me also from 

 Dawlish. The root of this plant is an excellent remedy for 

 nervous diseases. De Theis thinks the name is derived from 

 the Latin valere, to heal. 



I have the Small Marsh and the Great Wild Valerian. The 

 former attains the height of a foot only ; its chief peculiarity 

 is, that it bears its stamens on one plant and its stigmas on 

 another. The corymbs of white blossoms, tinged with pink, 

 are very pretty. The stem-leaves are pinnate, the root-leaves 

 oval. It frequents the damp marshy meadows in Swaledale 

 (V. dioica). 



The great Wild Valerian (V. officinalis), grows in moist bushy 

 places. There is a valley near to Marske, in Yorkshire, full of it, 

 and it is frequently to be met with in similar localities all over the 

 country. It grows three feet high, with large corymbs of pure 

 white flowers, and pinnate leaves, with lance-shaped segments. 



