Naturalisation in Extra Tropical Countries. 555 



Valeriana edulis, Nuttall. 



North- Western America, from Oregon to the Rocky Mountains* 

 The thick spindle-shaped root of this herb affords food to the natives 

 of that part of the globe. When baked the root proves agreeable and 

 wholesome. When we consider the wild state of the plants, from 

 which many of our important root-crops arose, this Valeriana and 

 several other plants, suggestively mentioned in these pages, may well 

 be admitted for trial-culture. 



Valeriana officinalis, Linne. 



Europe, Northern and Middle Asia, in swampy grass-land, witb 

 a predilection for forests and river-banks. In Norway it extends 

 northward to lat. 70 22' [Prof. Schuebeler]. This perennial herb 

 would do particularly well on high mountains. It is the only one 

 among numerous congeners of Europe, Asia and America, which is 

 drawn to a considerable extent into medicinal use. The root and 

 herb contain valerianic acid and a peculiar tannic acid ; the root 

 furnishes also an essential oil, which again resolves itself into 

 valerol (70 per cent.), valeren, barneol and valerianic acid. Con- 

 cerning these see " Husemann and Hilger's Pflanzenstoffe," 1884, 

 The order of Valerianese is not represented by any native plant in 

 Australia. 



Valerianella olitoria, Mcench. 



Lamb's Lettuce. Europe, North-Africa, Northern and Middle 

 Asia. Northward to lat. 59 16' in Norway. A fair salad-plant. 

 Much used in France from October to April. It is an annual and-has 

 several congeners in Europe and Asia. V. eriocarpa (Desvaux) is 

 similarly utilitarian. With still more force this may be said of the 

 co-ordinal Fedia cornucopias (Gaertner). The seeds will keep about 

 five years [Vilmorin]. 



Vangueria infausta, Burchell. 



From tropical Asia to Natal and Caffraria. The fruit of this 

 shrub or small tree is medlar-like, but superior in taste. Worth 

 test-cultivation with a view of improving the fruit. V. edulis (Vahl) 

 from the warmer regions of Africa and from Madagascar proved 

 hardy as far south as Port Jackson, and yields esculent rather small 

 fruits. 



Veratrurn album, Linn6. 



Europe, Northern and Middle Asia, extending eastward to Japan. 

 Hardy still at Christiania. It delights particularly in sub-alpine 

 localities. The root furnishes veratrin, jervin and sabadillic acid ; 

 it is used in medicine, particularly for external application. The 

 variety lobelianum extends to latitude 71 in Norway. 



