VALERIANEJ5. 191 



Properties. Bitterness, astringency, with tonic and 

 emetic powers, are their most marked characters ; the 

 alkaloids Cinchonia, Quinia, and Emetina are found in 

 some of them. 



Officinal Plants. 



Cephselis ipecacuanha. 

 Cinchona cordifolia. 



lancifolia. 



oblongifolia. 



27. VALERIANEJE. 



Calyx superior, limb dentate or cleft, membranaceous 

 or pappose. Corolla tubular, inserted upon the top of 

 the ovarium with a 5 (or 3-6) cleft-limb, the tube 

 sometimes gibbous at the base. Stamens 1-5, placed on 

 the tube of the calyx, and alternating with its lobes. 

 Ovarium inferior, with one cell alone, or with two other 

 abortive ones ; ovule solitary and pendulous. Fruit 

 dry and indehiscent, celled and seeded as the ovarium. 

 Embryo of the seed straight, exalbuminous, and the 

 radicle superior. 



Herbaceous, seldom shrubby at the base, with exsti- 

 pulate opposite leaves, and terminal inflorescence. 



Geographical Relations. Natives of temperate cli- 

 mates, with a polar rather than an equatorial ten- 

 dency. 



Properties. Bitterness, stimulating and aromatic 

 powers, with a peculiar odour, are chiefly to be observed . 



Officinal Plant. 

 Valeriana officinalis. 



