64 FAMILIAR WILD FLOWERS. 



words signifying " spur " and ' ' flower." As the true valerians 

 have not got this spur to the corolla, the present species is 

 by some writers called the spur-flowered valerian an un- 

 happy compromise, for if it has a spur it is not a valerian 

 at all. The old familiar name, red valerian, will do very 

 well, as it is quite sufficiently near the true valerians to 

 make the name hold in popular parlance. The specific 

 name refers to the colour, so that its botanical name is 

 especially descriptive, the crimson spur-flower. The special 

 virtues of the red valerian do not seem to be very marked, 

 but a plant that Gerarde brackets with it " helpeth paines 

 about the backe and hucklebone;" so that if any one feels 

 premonitory symptoms it is quite open to him to experi- 

 ment on himself, and we can only wish him every 

 success. 



