506 



NATURAL HISTORY OF PLANTS. 



Patrinia intermedia. 



Fig. 400. Flower (f). 



limb of variable form. The attenuated summit of the stem or of 

 some of its divisions is terminated by a floral group i resembling a 

 capitule but in reality formed of compound cymes with short pedicels 

 and free or slightly connate bracts.^ 



Beside Nardostachys is placed Patrinia (fig. 400), perennial herbs 

 of central and eastern Asia, having flowers with 

 a corolla somewhat kss irregular, four stamens, 

 a short calycinal collarette, entire or very 

 slightly dentate, oblique or unequal ; the flowers, 

 yellow or white, united in compound corymbi- 

 form cymes with axes of various degrees much 

 more developed. The fruit has three cells, of 

 which only one is fertile, and is often accom- 

 panied by an accrescent orbicular bract resem- 

 bling a wing. 

 In Valenanella (fig. 401), one species of which (known as Mdche) 

 is common in France and others, particularly F. olitoria (Lamb's 

 1 ettuce) in Britain, the organization of the flower is the same, but 



there are only three stamens instead of four. 

 One of the anterior disappears with the su~ 

 perior, and the anterior which remains is that 

 found on thfe side of the one fertile ovarian 

 cell of the three. The calyx is short, thick, 

 with very unequal divisions or, as in V. coro- 

 nata, with six teeth equal or nearly so. They 

 are annual herbs with dichotomous axes, 

 growing in Europe, Asia, N. America and 

 northern Africa. The inflorescences, most 

 frequently terminal, are in compound cymes, 

 often corymbiform. 

 Phyllactis comprises tropical American Valerians which, by their 

 flower, approach very near to Valeriana ; for the pentamerous corolla 

 is imbricate and bears three stamens. The base of the tube is nearly 

 regular or has an anterior gibbosity. It is surrounded by a small 

 collarette which occupies the place of a calyx and may be dentelate 

 or inflexed, but is oftener entire, annular or cupular. They are 



Valerianella {Dufresnia) 

 orien talis. 



Fig. 401. Fruit. 



1 The flowers are red or purple. 



2 Regular or unsymmetrical. 



