DICOTYLEDONES— COEOLLIFLOBiE 369 



diuretic and emmenagogue ; a few are valuable dyeing and 

 tanning agents ; and others have edible fruits and seeds. Some 

 are reputed to possess intoxicating, and in rare cases even 

 poisonous, properties. 



Cohort 2. — Asterales. 



Order 165. ValeeianacEjE, the Valerian Order. — Charac- 

 ter. — Herbs. Leaves opposite, exstipulate. Flowers cymose, 

 hermaphrodite or rarely unisexual. Calyx superior, vi'ith the 

 hmb obsolete, membranous, or pappose. Corolla epigynous, 

 gamopetalous, tubular, imbricate, 3 — 6-lobed, regular or irregular, 

 sometimes spurred at the base. Stamens 1 — 5, distinct, fewer 

 than the lobes of the corolla, and inserted in its tube. Ovary 

 inferior, with 1 fertile cell, and usually 2 abortive or empty ones. 

 Fruit dry and indehisoent, frequently crowned by a pappus. 

 Seed sohtary, suspended, exalbuminous ; radicle superior. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Chiefly natives of the temperate 

 parts of Europe, Asia, and America ; they are rare in Africa. 

 Illustrative Oenera : — Centranthus, DC. ; Valeriana, Linn. 

 There are about 190 species. 



Properties and Uses. — They are chiefly remarkable for the 

 presence of a strong-scented volatile oil, which renders them 

 stimiilant, antispasmodic, and tonic. Some are highly esteemed 

 in the East as perfumes, but they are not generally considered 

 agreeable by Europeans. 



Order 166. Dipsace^:, the Teazel Order. — Character. — 

 Herbs or undershrubs. Leaves opposite or verticillate, exstipu- 

 late. Flowers in dense heads (capitula), surrounded by an 

 involucre. Calyx superior, with a membranous or pappose 

 limb, and surrounded by an involucel. Corolla tubular, epigy- 

 nous, gamopetalous, the limb 4 — 5-lobed, generally irregular, and 

 with an imbricate aestivation. Stamens 4, epipetalous ; anthers 

 distinct. Ovary inferior, 1-celled ; ovule solitary, pendulous ; 

 style and stigma simple. Fruit dry, mdehiscent, and sur- 

 mounted by the pappose calyx. Seed with fleshy albumen ; 

 embryo straight ; radicle superior. 



Distribution and Numbers. — Chiefly natives of the South of 

 Europe, and of North and South Africa. A few species are 

 found in this country. Illustrative Genera : — Dipsacus, Tourn, ; 

 Scabiosa, Linn. There are about 170 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Some are reputed to possess astringent 

 and febrifugal properties, but as remedial agents they are alto- 



VOL. II. B B 



