Valerianella Miller

Tutin, T. G., Heywood, V. H., Burges, N. A., Moore, D. M., Valentine, D. H., Walters, S. M. & Webb, D. A., 1976, Flora Europaea. Volume 4. Plantaginaceae to Compositae (and Rubiaceae), Cambridge University Press : 48-49

2. Valerianella Miller 4

Erect, dichotomously branched annuals. Flowers hermaphrodite, in terminal partial inflorescences (clusters) and sometimes also solitary in the dichotomies of the inflorescence. Calyx variously developed, with up to 6(-3O) teeth, sometimes absent. Corolla small, with 5 slightly unequal lobes, bluish or pinkish; tube infundibuliform, not more than twice as long as limb,

slightly gibbous. Stamens 3. Stigma 3-fid. Sterile loculi of fruit variously developed.

Measurements and characters of fruits exclude the calyx. Most species are rather similar vegetatively and the dimensions of the vegetative parts vary very much according to habitat.

All species grow on disturbed ground or in other dry, open habitats, many of them principally as weeds of cultivated ground.

It is impossible to determine the northern limit of native distribution of many species, and no attempt has been made here to distinguish native from naturalized status. Several species are becoming rarer than formerly in N. & N.C. Europe.

Literature: M. J. E. Coode, Notes Roy. Bot. Gard. Edinb. 27: 219-256 (1967). T. O. B. N. Krok, Kungl. Svenska Vet.-Akad.

Handl. nov. ser., 5(1): 1-105 (1864). F. Weberling in G. Hegi, Illustrierte Flora von Mitteleuropa ed. 2,6(2): 111-131. München.

1970. (Coode and Weberling both have useful illustrations of fruits.)

1 All bracts broadly lanceolate, ovate or cordate, acute or acuminate, with wide scarious margins, mostly with long, dense cilia

2 Calyx inflated, depressed-ovoid, contracted at mouth 9. vesicaria 2 Calyx not inflated, not contracted at mouth

3 Calyx with long, filiform, ciliate teeth 5. hirsutissima 3 Calyx not with long, filiform, ciliate teeth

4 Fruit hemispherical, obtusely 3-angled; fertile loculus

c. i as wide as the combined width of the sterile loculi

4. pumila 4 Fruit not hemispherical, obtusely 4-angled; fertile loculus about as wide as or wider than the combined width of the sterile loculi

5 Fruit oblong-ovoid, 1^—2 times as long as wide; sterile loculi not more than half as large as the fertile

(1-3). coronata group 5 Fruit not oblong-ovoid, about as long as wide; sterile loculi about as large as the fertile

6 Calyx c. i as long as fruit; base of fruit obtuse 6. kotschyi 6 Calyx at least as long as fruit; base of fruit more or less acute

7 Calyx about twice as long as fruit, each tooth usually with 3 uncinate spines 8. obtusiloba 7 Calyx about as long as fruit, each tooth with only 1

uncinate spine 7. discoidea 1 At least the lower bracts oblong to linear-spathulate, obtuse to subacute, with scarious margins narrow or absent, without or with usually short, sparse cilia.

8 Calyx absent or reduced to minute teeth or a narrow rim;

fruit sometimes with horns at apex

9 Fruit with 1-3 stout horns at apex

10 Fruit with a single horn above the fertile loculus; internodes not or scarcely inflated in fruit 11. martinii 10 Fruit with 3 horns, or with a single horn above one of the sterile loculi; internodes±strongly inflated in fruit

15. echinata 9 Fruit without horns

11 Fertile loculus with a thickened, spongy outer wall as thick as the cavity of the loculus

12 Pericarp with ± large, pellucid papillae, usually with prominent ribs on the sterile loculi 14. costata 12 Pericarp smooth or transversely rugose, usually without prominent ribs 10. locusta 11 Fertile loculus without a thickened, spongy outer wall

13 Sterile loculi reduced to slender ribs

(18-19). eriocarpa group 13 Sterile loculi well-developed, often at least as large as the fertile

14 Fruit longer than wide, with an oblong groove between the sterile loculi 12. carinata 14 Fruit as wide as long, with an ovate-orbicular flat area between the sterile loculi 13. turgida 8 Calyx well-developed 15 Calyx divided almost to the base into rigid, narrowly triangular, recurved uncinate teeth 22. uncinata 15 Calyx entire or with short, straight teeth 16 Sterile loculi reduced to slender ribs, separated by an ovate flat area 17 Calyx more than j as long as, and as wide as fruit

(18-19). eriocarpa group 17 Calyx less than $ as long as, and much narrower than fruit

16. dentata 16 Sterile loculi well-developed, ± contiguous 18 Calyx obliquely truncate, entire or obscurely dentate;

sterile loculi larger or only slightly smaller than the fertile 17. rimosa 18 Calyx shortly 2-lipped; sterile loculi not more than half as large as the fertile

19 Fruit oblong-ovoid, 4-angled 21. pontica

19 Fruit ovoid-globose, 3-angled 20. puberula (1-3). V. coronata group. Up to 30(-40) cm. Lower cauline leaves narrowly spathulate to ovate, obtuse, entire to sinuatedentate; middle cauline spathulate-lanceolate, coarsely toothed; upper cauline linear-lanceolate, pinnatisect at base. Bracts ovate, scarious, setose. Fruits narrowly ovoid to oblong, 4-angled, more or less densely villous; sterile loculi smaller than the fertile, extending to base of fruit, separated by an ovate, flat area; calyx campanulate or coroniform, reticulately veined, glabrous, with distinct teeth, or reduced to an irregularly toothed rim.

A polymorphic group in which at least 3 species seem to be separable, but further investigation is required.

1 Sterile loculi reduced to slender ribs 3. lasiocarpa 1 Sterile loculi well-developed

2 Fruit c. 2-5 mm; calyx-teeth with an uncinate arista 1. coronata 2 Fruit c. 1•5 mm; calyx-teeth with a ± uncinate mucro 2. divaricata