VAL ERI ANA officinalis.
Great Wild Valerian.
T R I A N D R I A Monogynia.
G en. C har. Cal. none. Cor. of one petal, fuperior,
gibbous on one fide at the bafe. Seed one.
Spec. C har. S tam in a th re e . L e a v e s a ll p in n a ted ,
lea fle ts lan c e o la te , n e a r ly un iform.
S y n . V a le r ia n a o ffic in a lis . Linn. Sp. P I. 45. Sm.
FI. B r it. 38. Hudf. 12. With. 66. Hull. 10.
Relh. 14 . Sibth. 2 1 . Abbot. 8. Curt, Land,
fa fc . 6. t. 3 . Woodv. Med. Bot. t. 96.
V . fy lve ftr is major. Rail Syn. 200.
n p1 H E wild Valerian cannot have efcaped the moft fuper-
ficial botanift about moift hedges and the margins of rivers,
where it lifts up its flowery heads above the tops of Carices
and other large grafles, among which it commonly grows.
It is perennial, and flowers fome time in June. The feathery-
winged feeds are fcattered in July.
Stem about 4 feet high, furrowed, leafy. Leaves pinnated,
with an odd leaflet, all the leaflets ferrated, and nearly uniform,
thofe of the radical leaves (efpecially in the mountain variety
mentioned by Dillenius in Ray’s Synopfis) being fomewhat
broader. Flowers numerous, flefli-coloured. It is readily
diftinguifhed from V . dioica, t. 628, by its greater fize, pinnated
radical leaves, and hermaphrodite flowers.
The root is aromatic, but with a very naufeous flavour.
That of the mountain variety, which grows in dry groves and
thickets, and is of a more humble growth, is preferred for
medical purpofes, being more pungent and aromatic. It is
celebrated, not unjuftly, in nervous difeafes, particularly hy-
fleric and epileptic complaints.