CXX. CALYCERE^. 491 



epigynous corolla, several- celled ovary and pendulous ovule ; but the latter differ in the woody stem, axile 

 placentation, fleshy fruit and albuminous embryo. 



Vakrianece are mostly natives of the Old World, and principally of Central Europe, the Mediter- 

 ranean and Caucasian regions, whence some species have advanced eastwards into Siberia, Nepal and 

 Japan. They abound on the Cordilleras of South America, extending abundantly into Chili, Fuegia, and 

 the Falkland Islands. They are very rare in North America. 



Valerianeai possess medicinal qualities known from an ancient period ; but these properties are much 

 more marked in the perennial than in the annual species, where they have not time to be elaborated. 

 Their rhizomes contain a volatile oil, a peculiar acid, a bitter principle and starch ; their taste is acrid 

 and their odour penetrating. Valerianece now rank at the head of the vegetable antispasmodics ; 

 the principal species is the Valeriana officinalis, which grows in Europe in damp meadows. Celtic Nard is 

 yielded by two Alpine species [ V. celtica and Saliunca] which inhabit the limits of the eternal snows 

 [in Styria and Carinthia], whence their roots are sent to Turkey, and largely used to scent baths and as a 

 medicine. It also enters into the very complicated electuary called theriaque. 



The Spikenard of the ancients, Indian Nard of the moderns, Nardostachys Jatamansi, is greatly esteemed 

 in India on account of its aroma and stimulating properties. In the annual Valerianete the leaves are not 

 bitter like those of the perennial species ; this bitterness is replaced by a somewhat vapid mucilage, 

 relieved by a slight quantity of volatile oil, which renders them edible ; such are the Valerianellas [species 

 ofFedid], Lamb's Lettuce, Corn Salad, of which the young leaves are used for salad. 



CXX. CALYCEREJE. 



, R. Br. BOOPIDE^E, Cassini.) 



FLOWERS in an involucrate capitulum. COROLLA epigynous, monopetalous, isoste- 

 monous, aestivation valvate. ANTHERS syngenesious at the base. OVARY 1-cetteA, 

 1-ovuled ; OVULE pendulous, anatropous. EMBRYO albuminous. 



Annual or perennial HERBS. LEAVES alternate, sessile, without stipules. INFLO- 

 RESCENCE in a capitulum. with an involucre of one or more series of bracts. FLOWERS 

 sessile on a paleaceous or alveolate receptacle, sometimes all fertile, sometimes mixed 

 with flowers of which the pistil is suppressed, the fertile sometimes cohering below. 

 CALYX of 5 usually unequal segments, persistent. COROLLA inserted on an epigynous 

 disk, monopetalous, regular ; tube elongated, slender ; limb 5-fid, segments with a 

 dorsal and two sub-marginal nerves, aestivation valvate. STAMENS 5, inserted at the 

 bottom of the corolla-tube, and alternate with its segments ; filaments coherent to the 

 corolla-tube throughout its length, free near the throat, and monadelphous or 

 separate ; anthers introrse, bilocular, cohering at the base, free at the top, dehiscence 

 longitudinal. OVARY inferior, 1-celled, 1-ovuled, crowned by a conical disk uniting 

 the base of the corolla to that of the style, lining the corolla-tube, and dilating near 

 the throat into 5 glandular areolsB ; style terminal, simple, exserted, tip clavate 

 and glabrous ; stigma terminal, globose ; ovule pendulous from the top of the cell, 

 anatropous. ACHENES usually crowned by the accrescent calyx and marcescent 

 corolla, sometimes connate. SEED inverted, raphe longitudinal, chalaza apical. 

 EMBRYO straight, in the axis of a fleshy albumen. 



GENERA. 

 * Calycera. * Boopis. * Acicarpha. 



