Valerian.] XLI. VALBRIANEJE. 217 



and 5 short lobes. Stamens 3. Fruit small, 1 -seeded, crowned with the 

 pappus. 



A large genus, with the geographical range of the family, but most 

 abundant in mountain regions, where some species ascend to great 

 elevations. 



Lower leaves undivided. 



Stem 6 to 8 inches high. Radical leaves and segments of the 



upper ones entire 1. V. dioica. 



Stem 2 to 4 feet. Leaves large, broadly cordate, and toothed . 3. V. pyrenaica. 

 All the leaves pinnately divided, with several pairs of segments . 2. V. officinalis. 



1. V. dioica, Linn. (fig. 485). Marsh V. — Rootstock emitting creep- 

 ing running and erect flowering stems, 6 to 8 inches high. Radical 

 leaves and those of the runners on long stalks, ovate, entire, \ to 1 inch 

 long ; stem-leaves few, mostly pinnate, with one oval or oblong ter- 

 minal segment and several pairs of smaller and narrow ones, all entire. 

 Flowers very variable in size, and in the size of the stamens, of a pale 

 rose-colour, in terminal corymbs, mostly unisexual ; the tube of the 

 corolla short. 



A marsh plant, spread over a great part of Europe and eastward to 

 the Himalaya, but most common in the west ; extending northward 

 into southern Scandinavia. In most English counties and in a few 

 of the southern Scotch ones, but not recorded from Ireland. Fl. early 

 summer. 



2. V. officinalis, Linn. (fig. 486). Common V., All-heal. — Rootstock 

 short and thick, with creeping runners, and 1 or rarely more erect 

 stems, 2 to 3 or even 4 feet high, nearly simple, and more or less hairy 

 at the base. Leaves pinnate, with from 9 to 21, or even more lanceo- 

 late segments, 1 to 2 or even 3 inches long, and much varying in breadth, 

 marked with a few coarse teeth, and more or less sprinkled with hairs 

 underneath ; the upper leaves few and distant. Flowers small, white 

 or tinged with pink, in broad terminal corymbs. 



In moist situations, sides of ditches and streams, and damp woods, 

 extending over the whole of Europe and Russian Asia to the Arctic 

 Circle, becoming a mountain plant in the south. Common in Britain. 

 Fl. summer. A variety with fewer and broader segments to the leaves 

 has been distinguished under the name of V. sambucifolia, Mikan. 



3. V. pyrenaica, Linn. (fig. 487). Pyrenean V. — A taller plant 

 even than V. officinalis, and much coarser; the leaves broadly heart- 

 shaped, coarsely toothed, often 5 or 6 inches long and broad, with 

 more prominent veins than in most Valerians, the lower ones undivided, 

 the upper ones, in addition to the large terminal segment, have 1 or 

 sometimes 2 pairs of smaller ones on the short footstalk. Flowers like 

 those of V. officinalis, in large, flat terminal corymbs. 



A Pyrenean species, which, having escaped from cultivation, is now 

 well-established in woods and plantations in some parts of central and 

 southern Scotland and western England. Fl. summer. 



III. VALERIANELLA. CORNSALAD. 



Fedia, Linn. 

 Low annuals, with forked branches, narrow, entire or scarcely toothed 

 leaves, and very small white or pale-blue flowers, in little compact 



