266 
heads, by the want of albumen, by sensible properties, and the absence of an 
involucel. 
Geography. Natives of most temperate climates ; sometimes at consider- 
able elevations. They are abundant in the north of India, Europe, and South 
America, but uncommon in Africa and North America. 
Properties. The roots of Valeriana officinalis, Phu, and celtica, are 
tonic, bitter, aromatic, antispasmodic, and vermifugal ; they are even said to 
be febrifugal. The scent of these roots is not agreeable to a European ; and 
yet those of some species are highly esteemed as perfumes. Eastern nations 
procure from the mountains of Austria the Valeriana celtica to aromatise their 
baths ; the Nardostachys Jatamansi, or true Spikenard of the ancients, is 
valued in India, not only for its scent, but also as a remedy in hysteria and 
epilepsy. The young leaves of the species of Valerianella are eaten as salad, 
under the French name of Mache, or the English one of Lamb’s Lettuce. 
Red Valerian is also eaten in the same way in Sicily. See Royle, p. 242, for 
an elaborate dissertation upon the Nard of the ancients. DC. 
♦ 
GENERA. 
Patrinia, Juss. 
Mouffeta, Neck. 
Gytonanthus, Rafin. 
Nardostachys, DC. 
Dufresnea, DC. 
Valerianella, Moench. 
Odontocarpa, Neck. 
Astrephia, Dufr. 
Hemesotria, Raf. 
Fedia, Moench. 
Mitrophora, Neck. 
Plectritis, Lindl. 
Centranthus, DC. 
Kent rant hus, Neck. 
Valeriana, Neck. 
Phyllactis, Dufr. 
Astrephia, Dufr. 
Oligacoce, Willd. 
Betckea, DC. 
Triplostegia, Wall. 
Alliance III. BRUNONIALES. 
Essential Character. — Style single. Stigma with an indusium. Flowers in dense 
heads. 
Order CXCVII. BRUNONIACEJE. 
Goodenovi^, § 2. R. Brown Prodr. 589. (1810). 
Essential Character. — Calyx inferior, in 5 divisions, with 4 bracts at the base. 
Corolla monopetalous, almost regular, 5 -parted, inferior, withering. Stamens definite, 
hypogynous, alternate with the segments of the corolla ; anthers collateral, slightly cohe- 
ring. Ovary 1 -celled, with a single erect, ovule; style single; stigma enclosed in a 2- 
valved cup. Fruit a membranous utricle enclosed within the indurated tube of the calyx. 
Seed solitary, erect, without albumen ; embryo with plano-convex fleshy cotyledons, and a 
minute inferior radicle. — Herbaceous plants, without stems, and simple glandless hairs. 
Leaves radical, entire, with no stipules. Flowers on scapes collected in heads, surrounded 
by enlarged bracts, blue. 
Affinities. Placed by Brown as a section of Goodeniaceee, from 
which this order, in my judgment, differs essentially in the superior 1 -celled 
ovary and capitate flowers, thus approaching some species of Dipsaceae, but 
differing in the vv^ant of an involucel, the erect ovule, superior ovary, and 
peculiar stigma. With reference to this. Brown says : “ Brunonia agrees 
with Goodenoviae in the remarkable indusium of the stigma, in the structure 
and connexion of the antherae, in the seed being erect, and essentially in 
the aestivation of corolla. It differs from them in having both calyx and 
corolla distinct from the ovarium, in the disposition of vessels in the corolla, 
in the filaments being jointed at top, in the seed being without albumen, and 
in its remarkable inflorescence, compatible, indeed, with the nature of the irre- 
gularity in the corolla of Goodenoviae, but which can hardly co-exist with that 
