CLASSIFICATION OF ANGIOSPERMS. 385 



numerous cup-shaped stem-scars, and coarse, spreading roots ; 

 it is rather hard and tough, and has a bitter, nauseous taste. 

 Triosteum contains an emetic alkaloid, triosteine, and considerable 

 starch. The seeds of Triosteum perfoliatum are sometimes roasted 

 and employed like coffee, the plant being known as Wild coffee. 

 The roots and stems of the following plants are sometimes 

 employed: The Snowberry (Symphoricarpos racemosus) , the 

 Bush honeysuckle {Dicrvilla Loniccra) and various species of 

 Lonicera, these being also known as honeysuckles. 



VI. ORDER VALERIANALES OR AGGREGATE. 



The plants are mostly herbs with an. inferior ovary, which is 

 either unilocular with a single pendulous ovule, or tri-locular 

 with frequently but a single anatropous ovule. 



a. VALERIANACE.F] OR VALERIAN FAMILY. The 

 plants are herbs with opposite, exstipulate leaves, small, perfect, 

 or polygamo-dioecious flowers, occurring in corymbs. The fruit 

 is dry, indehiscent and akene-like. The calyx is persistent, becom- 

 ing elongated and plumose, and resembling the pappus in the 

 Compositse. 



Valeriana ofUcinalis (Garden or Wild valerian) is a tall, peren- 

 nial herb, more or less pubescent at the nodes. The leaves are 

 mostly basal, pinnately parted into "seven or m.ore segments, 

 which are lanceolate, entire or dentate. The flowers are white 

 or pink and arranged in corymbed cymes. The calyx is much 

 reduced, consisting of 5 to 15 pinnately branched teeth (pappus) ; 

 the corolla is tubular, somewhat sac-like on one side, but not 

 spurred as in other members of this family ; the stamens are 3 in 

 number and adnate to the corolla tul)e ; the stigma is 3-lobed. The 

 fruit is ovoid, glabrous, and with a conspicuous plumose pappus. 

 The rhizome and roots are official (p. 504). 



The young leaves of several species of Valerianella are used 

 as a salad and are cultivated like spinach, as the European corn- 

 salad (V. olitoria), which is also cultivated to some extent in 

 the L^nited States. 



b. DIPSACACE.^ OR TEASEL FAMILY. The plants 

 are annual or perennial herbs, chiefly indigenous to the Old 



25 



