Valeriana. VALERIANACE^. 319 



Stem-leaves 3-6 inches long ; the divisions in 2 - 5 pairs, varying from oblong-ovate to 

 linear-lanceolate, mostly acute, often entire, but usually with a few remote and small teeth. 

 Flowers numerous, in a pedunculate 2 - 3-forked compound cyme. Calyx, as in the rest of 

 the genus, with the limb at first curled inwards so as to be almost concealed, at length un- 

 folding into a beautiful pappus of numerous feathery rays. Corolla about three lines long, 

 gibbous at the base, rose-color. Stamens exserted. Style very long and filiform : stigmas 

 2. Fruit ribbed. 



Sphagnous swamp in Savannah, Wayne county {Dr. Sartwell). Fl. June - July. The 

 only other known locality of this interesting plant, in the United States, is Fairhaven, Vermont, 

 where it was first found by Dr. Robbins. Its medicinal properties are no doubt exactly similar 

 to those of V. dioica, to which it is nearly allied. 



2. FEDIA. Mcench. ; J. Woods in Linn, trans. 17. p. 421. t. 21. cornsalad. 



Fedia and Valbrianella, Mcench., DC, Endl., i^. 



[A name of uncertain meaning.] 



Limb of the calyx toothed and persistent, or obsolete. Tube of the corolla not spurred, but 

 sometimes gibbous at the base ; the limb 5-lobed, regular or somewhat irregular. Stamens 

 2 or 3. Stigma entire, or 2 - 3-lobed. Fruit 3-celled ; two of the cells empty (sometimes 

 confluent into one) ; the other one-seeded. — Annual smoothish herbs, more or less dichoto- 

 mous above. Leaves oblong or linear, sessile, entire, or often toothed or incised near the 

 base. Flowers in glomerate or crowded cy mules, white, rose-color or purple. Bracts 

 opposite, or somewhat involucellate. 



§. Valerianella, Moench. Corolla with a short tube and regular limb : stamens 3 ; stigma S-clefi 

 or entire : empty cells of the fruit membranaceous and inflated, or sometimes nerviform. 



1. Fedia Fagopyrum, Torr. 8^ Gr. (PI. XLVL) Buckwlieat Coin-salad. 



Fruit triangular, with an ovate outline, nearly smooth when mature, obscurely 3 - 5-toothed 

 at the apex ; the lateral angles acute , the anterior somewhat obtuse ; upper leaves mostly 

 entire and rather acute ; flowers white. — Torr. Sf Gr.Jl.N. Am. 2. p. 52. F. radiata, Torr. 

 fi. \. p. 35 (chiefly), not of Michx. Valeriana radiata. Beck, bot. p. 164 (partly). 



Stem 6-18 inches high, usually twice 2-forked above. Leaves about an inch long, some- 

 what glaucous, a little connate ; the lower spatulate , uppermost lanceolate-oblong. Bracts 

 lanceolate, acute ; the margins slightly scarious. Corolla funnel-form, about a line and a half 

 long, with a small protuberance on the side of the short narrow tube : lobes semiovate, nearly 

 equal. Stamens and styles included. Stigma small, nearly entire. Fruit about 1 i line long, 

 acute, crowned with the minute border of the calyx : two of the angles sharp ; the other 

 occupied by the 2 contracted empty cells, which always remain distinct. 



Wet shady grounds. Banks of the Mohawk river, near Utica {Dr. Gray <^ Dr. Knieskern). 

 Penn-Yan {Dr. Sartwell). May - June. 



