404 ORDER 68. YALERIAN'ACE^. 



plant varying in size from 1 to 2' to as many feet, found in swamps, &c., N. Y. to 

 La. Lvs, ' in length, apparently connate from the stipules adhering to each 

 Bide of the "petiole. Stip. 2-cleft into narrow, subulate divisions. Cal. in 4 deep, 

 leafy divisions, which are much longer than the white, rotate corolla. Stam. 

 nearly exserted. Sty. very short. Caps, opening crosswise. Jn. Sept. (Hed- 

 yotis Ell.) 



2 O. Boscii. St. erect, diffusely branched; Ivs. lance-linear, acute, attenuated 

 to a petiole, 1-veined ; stip. 2-pointed each side ; fls. axillary, sessile, 1 to 3 to- 

 gether; cor. shorter than the triangular- subulate calyx teeth, which are shorter 

 than the roundish capsule. 2| Borders of ponds, <fec., Car. to La. Sts. 6 to 10' 

 high. Lvs. 1' by 1 to 2". Cor. purplish. JL Sept. (Hedyotis DC.) 



3 O. Halaei, with pentamerous fls., a prostrate, succulent perennial, found by Dr. 

 Hale on the Eed River, La., may yet be found E. of the Miss. 



ORDER LXVIII. YALERIANACE^E. VALERIANS. 



Herbs with opposite leaves and no stipules. Calyx adherent, the limb either mem- 

 branous or resembling a pappus.. Corolla tubular or funnel-form, 4 to 5-lobed, 

 sometimes spurred at base. Stamens distinct, inserted into the corolla tube, alter- 

 nate with, and generally fewer than its lobes. Ovary inferior, with one perfect 

 cell and two abortive ones. Seeds solitary, pendulous, in a 'dry, indehiscent 

 pericarp. 



Genera 12, species 185, widely diffused in temperate climates. Tho true valerian of tho 

 shops, used in hysteria, epilepsy, fcc., is a product of Valeriana officinalis. The roots of several 

 other species possess a heavy odor, and are tonic, antispasmodic, febrifugal, &c. The spikenard 

 (John xii. 3, fec). of old, valued as a perfume and a stimulant, is from the root of Nardostachys 

 Jatumansi. 



1. VALERIANA, L. VALERIAN. (To King Valerius, a patron and 

 friend of botanists.) Calyx limb at first very small, involute, at length 

 evolving a plumous pappus ; corolla funnel-form, regular, 5-cleft ; stam- 

 ens 3 ; fruit 1 -celled, 1 -seeded. 2 Lvs. opposite, mostly pinnately 

 divided. Fls. in close cymes. 



* Leaves and leaflets broad, somewhat ovate Nos. 1 , 2 



* Leaves and leaflets narrow and nearly linear Nos. 3, 4 



1 V. pauciflora MX. Glabrous, erect or decumbent, often stoloniferous at base, 

 radical Ivs. ovate, cordate, slightly acuminate, on long petioles, crenate-serrate, 

 cauline, 3 to 7-parted ; Ifts. ovate, terminal one much the largest ; cymules few- 

 flowered, corymbous; corolla tube long (7 to 8"), and slender. Ohio to Ya. and 

 Tenn. St. mostly simple, 1 to 2f high. Lvs. of the succors mostly undivided, 

 1 to If by f to 1^', petioles 1 to 4' long. Fls. pale purple or white. Jn., JL 



2 V. sylvatica L. St. erect, striate, simple; radical Ivs. ovate or subspatulate 

 (never cordate), undivided ; cauline one pinnately divided ; segm. ovate-lanceolate, 

 entire or subserrate, the terminal one often dentate ; cor. short (3 to 4") ; fr. 

 ovate, compressed, smooth. St. 1 to 2f high. Swamps, Vt. to Mich., very rare. 

 Lvs. ciliate with scattered hairs, those of the root petioled, sometimes auriculato 

 at base, those of the stem with 4 to 8 lateral segm. and a large terminal one. 

 Fls. numerous, rose-colored, appearing in July. 



3 V. edtilis Nutt. Simple, smooth, and somewhat fleshy ; rt. Ivs. linear, spatu- 

 late, entire, the cauline pinnately cleft into 3 to 7 lance-linear, acute segm., mar- 

 gins densely and minutely ciliate, mostly attenuated to the base, panicle com- 

 pound ; cor. short (2 to 3") ; fr. compressed, 4-ribbed, crowned with the late cal. 

 limb of 10 or 12 plumous setae. Low grounds, Can., Wis., Ohio. Rt. yellowish, 

 fusiform. St. 1 to 3f high. Rt. Ivs. many, 3 to 8' long, segm. 2 to 4" wide. 

 Fls. white, in a dense panicle which is greatly expanded in fruit. Jn. Tho 

 fleshy root is said to be cooked and eaten by the Indians. (V. ciliata T. & G.) 



4 V. officinalis L. VALERIAN. Lvs. all pinnate; Ifts. lance-linear or lan- 

 ceolate, the lateral and terminal similar, nearly entire; cor. small, short (2"), in 

 a crowded, compound cyme. From Europe. It yields the valerian of the shops. 



