214 
THE LADIES’ FLOWER-GARDEN 
CHAPTER XXXYI. 
VALERIANA CEJS. 
Essential Character. —Calyx adherent ; limb variable in the 
different genera. Corolla monopetalous, usually 5-lobed, having the 
tube gibbous or spurred at the base. Stamens one to five, adnate to 
the corolla at the base. Style one, crowned by two or three free or 
confined stigmas. Fruit membraneous or subnucumentaceous, inde- 
hiscent, crowned by the limb of the calyx, one or three-celled ; when 
the latter is the case, the two lateral ones are abortive. Seed pendu¬ 
lous. Albumen none. Annual or perennial herbs, with variable, 
opposite, exstipulate leaves, and cymose corymbs of flowers.—(G. 
Don.) 
GENUS I. 
FEDIA, Mcench. THE PURPLE-STEMMED VALERIAN, OR LAMB’S-LETTUCE. 
Lin. Syst. DIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Limb of calyx with four unequal subulate lobes. Corolla filiform, with an unequally 5-lobed subringent limb. Stamens 
two. Stigma bifid. Fruit spongy, indehiscent, 3-celled.—(G. Don.) 
FEDIA CORNUCOPIA:, Gcertn. THE IIORN-LIKE FEDIA. 
Synonymes. —F. incrassata, Mtench ; Valeriana cornucopiae, Lin. ; 
V. indica, Clus. 
Engravings —Bot. Reg. t. 155; and our fig. 4, in Plate 38. 
Specific Character. —Leaves ovate-oblong, toothed; lower ones 
petiolate ; upper ones sessile ; flowers corymbose, in fascicles; pedun¬ 
cles thickened, fistular.—( G. Don.) 
Description, &c. —This is the plant which is sold in the seed-shops under the name of Horns, from the 
curious shape of the seed-pods, which resemble those of the scarlet-flowered Loasa ( Caiophora ). The plant is 
rather coarse-growing, with a thick purple stem, and heads of rather pretty small pink flowers. It is a native 
of the shores of the Mediterranean, and was introduced in 1596- The seeds should be sown in the open border 
in March, in rather a light soil, and they will require no other care. The name of Fedia is derived from an 
ancient Latin word signifying a kid ; and it is applied to this plant, because goats are said to be fond of browsing 
on it. 
GENUS II. 
PLECTRITIS, Dec. THE PLECTRITIS. 
Lin. Syst. TRIANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 
Generic Character. —Limb of calyx entire. Corolla gibbous at the base in front from a short spur, with a 5-lobed bilabiate limb. 
Stamens 3. Capsule cartilaginous, 1-celled, 2-winged.—(G. Don.) 
PLECTRITIS CONGESTA, Dec. THE CROWDED-FLOWERED PLECTRITIS, OR PINK VALERIAN. 
Synonyme. —Valerianella congesta, Lindl. | Specific Character. —Flowers crowded, in whorls. Bracteas mul- 
Engraving. —Bot. Reg. t. 1095. | tifid, with subulate segments. 
Description, &c.— A rather curious plant, with whorls of dark rose-coloured flowers. A native of the 
North-west coast of America, where it was found on the shore near the mouth of the Columbia, and sent home 
by Douglas in 1826. It flowers in July. The seeds should be sown in light soil, and the plants should be often 
watered, but they will require no other care. They will not bear transplanting. 
