Val. officinalis and others are protandrous: in the first period the stamens project from the centre of the flower (Fig. [595] a), the stigmas in the second (b) when the stamens have become bent backwards. (V. dioica is diœcious with large ♂-and small ♀-flowers).—275 species; especially from the temperate and colder parts of the northern hemisphere of the Old World, Western North America and the Andes.—Bitter properties are characteristic, such for instance as the volatile acid and volatile oil of Valeriana; these occur especially in the rhizomes. Officinal; the rhizomes of V. officinalis.—The true Indian “Nardus,” an important medicine and perfume in India, is extracted from Nardostachys (Himalaya). A variety of Valerianella olitoria is sometimes used as salad.
Fig. 594.—Valeriana: A ovary (longitudinal section); B ripe fruit.
Fig. 595.—Valeriana: a flower in the ♂ stage; b in the ♀.
Fig. 596.—Centranthus ruber. Flower, its lowermost portion (the ovary and spur) in longitudinal section. (Mag.)
Fig. 597.—Scabiosa atropurpurea. Fruit in longitudinal section. Inside the “epicalyx” may be seen the fruit drawn out into a beak, with straight embryo and radicle directed upwards.
Order 2. Dipsacaceæ (Teasels). Herbs with opposite leaves without stipules. The flowers are situated in compact capitula each with an involucre. A characteristic feature of the order is that each flower of the capitulum has a gamophyllous “epicalyx” (Figs. [597], [599], [600]), which envelopes the inferior ovary. The flowers (Figs. [599], [600]) are ☿, 5-merous (S5, P5, stamens typically 5, G2), but the calyx often expands at the edge into a membrane with 5, or an indefinite number of bristles or teeth (pappus, Figs. [597], [600]), and the zygomorphic, funnel-shaped corolla is sometimes 5-lobed and bilabiate (2/3), but most frequently 4-partite (Fig. [599]), the two lobes of the upper lip coalescing into one lobe, as in certain Labiatæ, Veronica and Plantago; the æstivation is imbricate.