IVeclri(,\. VALERIANACEyE. 



287 



iho baso : tlio limb about equally S-lobed. Stanioiis 3. Abortive cells of tlio ovary 

 small or obscure, obliterated in the akene-likn fruit. — Perennial herbs, with strong- 

 scented mostly thickened rootstocks or roots, simple or pinnate leaves, and white or 

 flesh-colored flowers in a terminal often panicled cyme. The flowers in some species 

 are either dimorjthous or polygamo-dioecious. — The roots of several are used in 

 medicine. The only species yet detected in this State is, 



1. V. sylvatica, Richardson. !Miinitely pubescent or nearly glabrous : rnot- 

 sto(;k croei)ing : root-leaves entire and s])atulate or oval, or sometimes 3i)arto<l : 

 stem-leaves mostly i)innatcly divided into 3 to 11 broadly lanceolate or oblong-ovatc 

 unequal entire or toothed leaflets : flowers all perfect : corolla short and broad : 

 stigma almost entire. 



Wet places in the Sierra Nevada, &c., from the Yosetnite to Doiiner Lake, thence eastward 

 and nortliward through tlie Continent. This has hecn tiiotiglit to be tlic European V. dioica, or 

 too near it ; hut the stigma is not 3-(;left, and no form is known with inclu<ied stamens and long 

 styk\ At the north it sometimes has smaller flowers with less protruded stamens ; but then the 

 style also is short. 



V. KDUMS, Nutt., is common in the Rocky Mountains and eastward ; and it may be found in 

 the northeastern part of California. It is well marked hy the long lanceolate or linear leaves or 

 lobes of the leaves, with minutely downy margins ; and the (lowers are dioecious. 



2. PLECTRITIS, (Lindl.,) DC. 

 Limb of the calyx obsolete or none. Tube of the corolla very gibbous, spurred 

 at the base ; the short limb more or less bilabiate ; upper lip 2-cleft, lower 3-cleft. 

 Stamens ,3. Ovary triangular, with empty cells at two of tho angles : stylo slender : 

 stigma somewhat capitate. Fruit winged on each side of tho fertile cell by the 

 remains of the open and enlarged sterile cells, tho wings incurved, making the fruit 

 saucer-shaped. — Annuals, nearly glabrous (except that the fruit is often puberu- 

 lent), with slender erect stems, oblong or spatulate entire or barely sinuate-toothed 

 leaves, the cauline ones sessile ; the dense contracted cymes in the axils of the u]iper 

 small leaves and terminal, forming an interrupted spike or head. Flowers snmll, 

 rose-color, subtended by pairs of subulate bracts, perfect. Stamens and stylo some- 

 times oxserted, sometimes more or loss included in tho same species. 



Thoro Is a Chilian spccicfl vpfcrrod to Mils genus by Mcntliam nnd llenkcr, which has winglcHs 

 fruit. Tho two genuine species, connned to tho western side of North America, are Just alike in 

 lierbage, and to bo distinguished only by tho flowers. 



1. P. COngesta, DC. Corolla about a quarter of nn inch long; its spur much 

 shorter and smaller than tho tube ; the limb distinctly bilabiate. 



Moist soil, less abundant than tho next ; common in Oregon and extending into Utah. Varj'- 

 ing from a span to a foot or two in height. 



2. P. macrocera, Torr. i^ Cray. Corolla considerably smaller ; its thick sjuir 

 about tho length of tho body, so. that it n])pejirs as if attached at tlie middle; tho 

 limb smaller and less evidently bilabiate. — Torr. i^-; (Jray, V\. ii. .00. J\ bnirhtj- 

 stemon, Fisch. & Meyer, ]nd. Sem. Petei'sb. 1835. 



Common in low grounds, towanls tho coast and in the valleys. — Fischer .V Meyer's name is 

 the older, but is misleading, as the length of the stnmens is not a specific diameter, nnd they 

 omitted all mention of the real distinctions of the species. 



OunKli DIPSACE.ffl, Ibe Teasel or Scabious Funnily, has no indigenous 

 representatives in America, and ni) truly naturalized species in (jdiforuia. liut 

 DiPSACUS FULLONUM, the FuUer'ii Teasrl, has been met with in wa.ste gmunds 

 near old settlements. It is proper to mention it, but it hardly nceils to bo described. 



