CXX. CALYCEEE^. 491 



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

 placentation, fleshy fruit and albuminous embryo. 



Valei-imiecB are mostly natives of the Old World, and principallj' 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. 



Valerianeee 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. Valerianets now rank at the head of the vegetable antispasmodics ; 

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

 yielded by two Alpine species [ V. celtica and Saliunoa'] 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, Nardostackya Jatamansi, is greatly esteemed 

 in India on account of its aroma, and stimulating properties. In the annual Valerianeee 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 

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



CXX. CALYCEREJ^. 

 [Cadtceke^, E. Bt. — BooPiDEiE, Cassini.) 



"Flowehs in an involucrate capitulum. Coeolla epigynous^ mbnopeialous, isosie' 

 monoils, CBstivation vahate. Anthees syngenesious at the base. OvAET l^tetled, 

 I'Ovuled ; OTXTIiE pendulous, dnatropous. EmEbeTO albuminous. 



Annual or perennial HEEBS. Leaves alternate, sessile, without stipules* Inplo^ 

 EESCENCE in a capitulnm, with an involucre of one or more series of bracts. Flowe&s 

 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. 

 CAiiTX of 5 usually unequal segments, persistent. CoeOlla 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 cohei'ent to the 

 coroUa-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. Ovaet 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 areolse ; 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. 

 Embeto straight, in the axis of a fleshy albumen. 



GENERA. 

 * Cnlycera. * Boopis. * Acicarpha. 



