488 CXIX. VALERIANE^. 



seed that agreeable aroma and taste of which advantage has been taken to prepare a drink which specially 

 stimulates the functions of the brain. To those who do not habitually drink it, coffee may become a 

 useful medicine ; it succeeds in the treatment of intermittent fevers ; it relieves asthma, and it is said 

 gout also ; and it counteracts the effects of wine or of opium. Its most prevalent use as a medicine is in 

 curing headache. 



Some indigenous Jiubiacece were formerly used as medicines ; thus an infusion of the flowering tops 

 of the Yellow Galium was given to nurses to increase the secretion of milk, and as an antispasmodic. 

 They are now employed in many countries, and especially in England, to give a yellow colour to cheese. 

 The Squinancy (Asperula cynanchica) the leaves of which contain a bitter slightly astringent principle, was 

 iised in cases of angina. Asperula odorata, the perfume of which comes out when dried, was praised as a 

 tonic and vulnerary ; it is now only used to give a bouquet to Rhine wines, and gardeners cultivate it as 

 an edging. Madder {liubia tinctonim) grows wild in the Mediterranean region ; it is cultivated at Avignon, 

 in Alsace, and in Zealand, on account of the red colouring matter contained in the root, and which is 

 largely used for dyeing fabrics. This dye, in a pure state, is called alkaline. It also exists, but in less 

 quantity, in the root of the Chaya-vei; a Rubiaceous plant, which is cultivated on the Coromandel coast. 

 [Probably the Bengal Madder (Munjeet) is here alluded to ; it is cultivated throughout India.] 



[The above notice of the useful Ruhiacete must be largely extended ; very many species contain bitter 

 febrifuge principles, especially Exostemma, Mondeletia, and Condaminea in South America ; as also Pink- 

 neya in Carolina, Hymenodictyon in India, and the Ophiorhka Mungos (Earth-gall) in the Malayan Islands. 

 Gambir, one of the most important of astringents, is the produce of TJncaria Oamhir. The American 

 Michardsonia scuhra and others yield one valuable false Ipecacuanha, and the Psycliotria emetiea another. 

 The fruit of the Indian Randia dumetorum is a powerful emetic. Amongst edible fruits the Genipap 

 is that of Genipa amencana, the native Peach of Africa is the fruit of Sarcocephahts es<ndentus, and the 

 Voavanga of Madagascar that of Vangneria eduKs. — Ed.J 



CXIX. VALERIANE^. 

 (DiPSACEAEUM sectio, A. L. de Jussieu. — Valeeianb^, D. C— ValeeianacEjE, Lindl.) 



CoEOLLA monopetalous, epigynous, aestivation imbricate. Stamens 6-4-3-1, in- 

 serted on the corolla-tube. Ovaet S-celled, two cells without ovules, the third 1-ovuled ; 

 OVULE pendmlous, anatropous. Embeto exalbuminous. 



Annuals with slender inodorous roots, or perennials with a usually strong-scented 

 rhizome. Leaves : radical fascicled ; cauline opposite, simple ; petiole dilated, ex- 

 stipulate. Elowbes perfect, or unisexual by arrest, in a dichotomous cyme or close 

 corymb, or solitary in the forks, and bra'cteate. Caltx superior, sometimes cut into 

 3-4 accrescent teeth, or reduced to a single tooth ; sometimes of bristles which are 

 involute before flowering, when they unfold into a plumose deciduous crown. Coeolla 

 monopetalous, inserted on a disk crowning the top of the ovary, tubular-infundibuli- 

 form ; tube regular, or produced at its base into a knob or hollow spur ; limb with 

 5-4-3 equal or sub-labiate lobes, aestivation imbricate. Stamens inserted above the 

 middle of the corolla-tube, alternate with its divisions, rarely 6, usually 4 by sup- 

 pression of the posterior stamen, or 3 by suppression of the posterior and a lateral 

 stamen ; sometimes the posterior only is developed ; filaments distinct, exserted ; 

 anthers introrse, 2-celled, dehiscence longitudinal. Ovaet inferior, 3-celled, two 

 cells empty, the third fertile ; style simple, filiform ; stigma undivided or 2-3-fid; 

 ovule solitary, pendulous from the top of the cell, anatropous. Feuit dry, indehis- 



