340 The BRIT 1S ia» RB AVE: 
in the generality three. In all thefe cafes the plants have the threads and the ftyle in the fame flower ; 
but in others there are diftin&t male and female flowers. All this Linnzus acknowledges ; and he owns 
alfo, that the plants are all fpecies of valerian. Let us reafon on this with impartiality. The having 
one, two, or three threads, is, according to this author, the mark for plants belonging to one or an- 
other clafs: therefore, as he allows all the fpecies in which thefe differences are found to be ftill vale- 
rians, all plants of one and the fame genus, it follows, that, according to his method, the feveral 
fpecies of the fame genus may belong to different claffes. This needs no remark, The {pecies of 
valerian fhould, according to this author, have been placed afunder in four diftingt claffes: this ap- 
pears by their parts, and by his characters ; both invariable, and incompatible with one another. His 
fyftem, therefore, is not conformable to nature or reafon. 
The author was himfelf fenfible of this; for he has not made different genera of thefe feveral wa- 
lerians, but has placed them all together under one head in his clafs “of ¢riandria, following by force 
the method of Nature in keeping them together, though to the everlafting difgrace of his fyftem, 
Del VleS iO Ne I: 
x. Great, fmooth Water Valerian. 
Valeriana aquatica glabra maxima. 
The root is compofed of numerous, thick 
fibres, and fends out feveral creeping branches 
juft under the furface. : 
The firft leaves are large, and beautifully pin- 
nated : each is compofed of five or fix pairs of 
pinnee, fixed to a flender, redifh midle rib, with 
an odd one at the end: they are of a pale green, 
oblong, fomewhat broad, flightly indented at the 
edges, and fharp-pointed. 
The ftalk is round, upright, firm, ftriated, 
rarely at all branched, and five feet high. 
The leaves ftand on it in pairs in a regular and 
beautiful manner: they are pinnated like thofe 
from the root; and they are of a pale green. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalks,; 
and are {mall, and of a pale, but elegant flefh- 
colour: they are placed in large, round tufts, 
like umbells. 
The feeds are fmall, oblong, and winged with 
down. 
It is common by, waters, and flowers in July. 
C. Bauhine calls it Valeriana fylveftris major 5 a 
name moft others copy ; but it is improper, be- 
caufe it does not diftinguifh it from a fpecies 
next to be defcribed, which fhould be known dif- 
tindtly, becaufe of its great virtues. It will be 
better therefore to call it the great, fmooth water 
valerian, and in Latin Valeriana aquatica glabra 
maxima, 
2, Wild Valerian. 
Valeriana fylveftris montana. 
The root is compofed of numerous, thick, | 
whitifh fibres ; and is of a very ftrong and dif- 
agreeable fmell, and of a pungent tafte. 
The firft leaves are placed on flender footftalks ; 
and they are compofed of five, fix, or more pairs 
of pinne: they are of a dufky green, flightly 
notched at the edges, and hairy. 
The ftalk is firm, upright, ftriated, and a yard 
high. 
The Jeaves ftand in pairs, and are pinnated 
like thofe from the root; but they are compofed 
_ of more numerous pinne: there are eight or 
more pairs on each; and they are narrow, fer- 
rated, fharp-pointed, and of a faint green. 
The flowers ftand at the tops of the ftalk in a 
large umbel : they are feparately very {mall ; and 
their colour is white, with a faint tinge of flefh- 
colour. ~ 
BR Ted 1S) Hs PB Cale c 
The feeds are fingle, naked, and winged with 
down. 
It is common on heaths, and near woods, and 
flowers in Auguft. 
C. Bauhine calls it Valeriana montana fylveftris 
major. Rivinus, Valeriana fylveftris folio an- 
guftiore. 
This is a plant of very great virtues. The 
root poffeffes them in the higheft degree; and it 
is to be gathered before the herb rifes into a ftalk, 
and dried for ufe : after this it may be given in 
powder or tincture. 
It is excellent againft nervous complaints. It 
cures inveterate headachs, tremblings, palpita- 
tions of the heart, vapours, and all that train of 
miferable diforders included under the name of 
nervous. It is alfo good in hyfterick cafes, greatly 
promoting the menfes. Epilepfies have been 
cured folely by this medicine. 
Fabius Columna, an author of great know- ' 
ledge and ftrict veracity, gives a great account 
of its virtues as experienced by himfelf; and the 
late Dr. Douglas took pains to revive its ufe, to 
the advantage of mankind. It is by his recom- 
mendation reftored to the fhops, and makes a 
very confiderable article in modern prefcription 
for thofe cafes. 
3. Small Wild Valerian. 
Valeriana fylveftris minor. 
The two former fpecies have the firtt leaves 
that rife from the root, pinnated like thofe on the 
ftalk ; but in thisand feveral others they are per- 
feétly different. — 
The root is long, flender, and furnifhed with 
many fibres: ic fends off a kind of fhoots near 
the head, which run under the furface; and from 
thefe rife tufts of leaves in feveral places, 
Thefe leaves, which rife immediately from the 
root, or from its underground fhoots, are broad, 
oblong, of a frefh green, and placed fingly on 
long, flender footftalks. f 
The ftalk is upright, ftriated, of a pale green, 
and a foot high. . 
The leaves on this are beautifully pinnated : 
each is compofed of five or more pairs of flender, 
oblong pinne, fixed to a middle rib, with a 
larger at the end; and they are of a pale green, 
fmooth, and not indented at the edges. . 
The flowers ftand at the top of the ftalk, and 
alfo on fhort footftalks rifing from the bofoms of 
the upper leaves, in great regularity; and they 
are 
EE eee ee a ee 
