318 VALERIANACE^. Valeriana. 



Group 2. Ovary coherent with the calyx (the limb assuming the form of a crown 

 or pappus, or else is obsolete), one-celled or sometimes with two empty cells, 

 one-ovuled. Seeds with little or no albumen. Stamens inserted on the corolla. 

 Fruit a kind of achenium. — Flowers commonly in heads. 



Order LIII VALERIANACEtE. DC. The Valerian Tribe. 



Limb of the calyx 2 - 4-toothed, obsolete or forming a kind of pappus. Corolla 

 tubular-fun nelform or obconical, sometimes gibbous or with a spur at the base; 

 the limb mostly 5-lobed. Stamens distinct, usually fewer than the lobes of 

 the corolla. Ovary with one perfect cell, and two abortive ones. Fruit 

 membranaceous or coriaceous, indehiscent, one-celled, or 3-celled with two 

 of the cells empty. Seed suspended. — Herbs with opposite leaves and no 

 stipules ; the perennial species with thick strong-scented roots or rhizomas. 

 Flowers in dichotomous cymes or panicles. 



I.VALERIANA. Tourn. ; DC. mem. Valer. ; Endl. gen. 2\86. valerian. 



[ From the Latin, tiako, to be powerful ; on account of its medicinal virtues.] 



Limb of the calyx involute after flowering, at length unfolding into a feathery pappus. Corolla 

 obconical, with a cylindrical tube which is often gibbous, but not spurred at the base ; the 

 limb obtusely 5-lobed, regular. Stamens 3. Fruit one-celled when mature, one-seeded. — 

 Perennial herbs, or sometimes shrubby plants, with the leaves entire or divided. Flowers 

 cymose ; those in the forks sessile ; the cymules often paniculate or glomerate. Bracts 

 usually opposite. Corolla white, sometimes bluish or rose-color. 



1. Valeriana sylvatica, Herb. Banks. (PI. XLV.) Tall Swamp Valerian. 



Smooth ; stem slightly striate, simple ; radical leaves ovate or oblong-spatulate, entire or 

 rarely with two small auriculate lobes, on slender petioles ; cauline ones pinnately divided ; 

 the divisions lanceolate or ovate-lanceolate, entire or obscurely serrate, the terminal one larger; 

 flowers all perfect and similar, numerous, in a cyme which is at first compact, but at length 

 open corymbose ; lobes of the stigma 2-3, minute ; fruit oblong-ovoid, compressed, smooth. 

 — Richards, in app. Frankl. journ. ed. 2. p. 2; HooTi.fl. Bor.-Am. 1. p. 291 ; Torr. ^ Gr. 

 fl. N. Am. 2. p. 47. V. dioica, Pursh, fl. \. p. 727. 



var. uliginosa : leaves ciliate, the surface often minutely pubescent ; the terminal division 

 frequently toothed. Torr. ^ Gr. I. c. V. sylvatica? Beck, hot. p. 164. 



Roots consisting of numerous long fibres, having the odor of V. officinalis. Plant 2-3 feet 

 high. Stem simple, sometimes a little pubescent when young, but commonly smooth, erect. 



