406 MANUAL OF NATURAL HISTORY. 



perate regions. The root of the Common- 

 Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is employed 

 medicinally. 



5. FAMILY. Style-Worts (Stylidiacese) Herbs or 



under-shrubs, non-lactescent ; leaves alter- 

 nate, scattered, or somewhat verticillate, 

 exstipulate; flowers in spikes, racemes or 

 corymbs, or solitary and terminal, rarely 

 axillary ; corolla gamopetalous ; aestivation 

 imbricate ; stamens two ; filaments and style 

 united into a column, which is very irritable ; 

 anthers didymous ; ovary 2 or more celled ; 

 fruit a capsule, with 2 valves and 2 cells ; 

 seeds albuminous. Principally inhabit Aus- 

 tralian marshes, but occur also in India, 

 the South of New Zealand, and along the 

 Straits of Magellan. 



6. FAMILY. Goodeniads (Goodeniacese). Herbs, 



rarely shrubs, non-lactescent; leaves scat- 

 tered, exstipulate, usually alternate ; flowers 

 distinct, never capitate, yellow, blue, or pink ; 

 corolla induplicate ; stamens five ; anthers 

 syngenesious or free ; stigma surrounded by 

 a cup-like indusium ; ovary 2 or more celled ; 

 fruit capsular, drupaceous or nut-like ; seeds 

 albuminous. Natives of Australasia and 

 Polynesia, 



7. FAMILY. Lobelias (Lobeliacese). Herbs or 



shrubs, lactescent ; leaves alternate, exstipu- 

 late ; flowers axillary or terminal ; corolla 

 gamopetalous ; aestivation valvate, irregular ; 



