288 SYSTEMATIC BOTA1ST. 



the East Indies ; species of Morinda, Psychntria, Genipa, Condaminea, &c. 

 are of less importance. Guettarda speciosa furnishes what is called by 

 cabinet-makers "Zebra-wood, ' from the West Indies. 



Among the genera noticed in the list above are found many of our 

 favourite stove-plants, noted, like Gardenia, for fragrance,. or, like Ixora, 

 for their splendid blossoms and handsome foliage. Man v species of Galium 

 are common weeds with us, readily known by their star-like whorls of 

 leaves and stipules. 



. VALERIAN ACE^E (THE VALERIAN ORDER) consists of herbs with 

 opposite simple or compound leaves and no stipules ; the tube of the 

 flower adherent to the ovary, which latter has 1 fertile and 2 abortive or 

 empty cells ; the limb of the calyx is obsolete or forms a pappus ; corolla 

 epigynous, tubular, 3-6-lobed (lobes imbricate), sometimes spurred at the 

 base ; stamens 1-5, distinct, fewer than the teeth of the corolla, attached 

 to its tube, alternate with the lobes ; seeds solitary, in the fertile cell of 

 the dry, indehiscent, sometimes pappose fruit, pendulous, aperispermic ; 

 radicle superior. Illustrative Genera : Fedia, Moench ; Centratithus, DC.; 

 Valericma, Neck. 



Affinities, &c. This Order approaches Dipsacese in general structure, 

 sometimes having involucrate inflorescence ; hence it is also related to 

 Compositae, Campanulacese, &c. ; but the peculiar structure of the ovary 

 is a very marked character, and the seed of Dipsacese is perispermic. The 

 development and unrolling of the pappus of Centranthus and others, during 

 the ripening of the fruit, is very singular : the corolla is surrounded by a 

 thickened ring, which subsequently enlarges and expands into a crown of 

 feathery processes. 



Distribution. An extensive Order, the members of which are distributed 

 throughout the temperate parts of Europe, Asia, and America. 



Qualities and Uses. Many of the plants have strong aromatic properties, 

 whence they are used as autispasmodic and tonic remedies. Valeriana 

 ufficinalis, Phu, celtica, and Saliunca are all used ; V. sitcliensis, from 

 Kussian America, is said to be the most powerful. Nardostachys Jatamansi 

 (India) is supposed to be the ancient Spikenard. Fedia or Valerianella 

 olitoria is cultivated for salad, under the name of Lamb's Lettuce. Cen- 

 tranthus ruber, a showy plant, with abundant cymes of small rose- 

 coloured flowers, is found in most gardens, and is naturalized in Kent. 



DIPSACE/E (THE SCABIOUS ORDER) is composed of herbs with 

 opposite or whorled leaves, no stipules ; the flowers in dense heads sur- 

 rounded by an involucre as in Composite ; the separate florets surrounded 

 by epecial membmnoua involucels ; calyx adherent, limb scaly or pappose; 

 corolla epigynous, tubular, mostly irregular, 4-5-lobed, inserted on the 

 calyx, imbricated in aestivation ; stamens 4, sometimes half-barren, 

 attached to the tube of the corolla ; anthers distinct ; ovary 1-celled, 

 with 1 pendulous ovule, simple style and stigma ; fruit indehiscent ; seed 

 perispermic ; radicle superior. Illustrative Genera : Dipsacus, Tournef. ; 

 Scabiosa, Rom. et Schult. 



Affinities, &c. Nearly related to Valerianacese on one hand, and to Com- 

 positte on the other ; distinguished from both by its involucels and peri- 



