Patrinia
(named in honour of E. L. Patrin, 1742-1814, French traveller in Siberia, &c.). SYNS. Fedia (of Adanson), Mouffetta. ORD. Valerianeae. A genus of erect, glabrous or loosely villous, hardy, perennial herbs. About nine or ten species have been proposed, but several authors reduce these as varieties of two only; they are natives of Central and extra-tropical Eastern Asia. Flowers disposed in corymbose-paniculate cymes; calyx limb small, obtusely sub-dentate; corolla yellow, with a very short tube, and a limb of five spreading lobes. Leaves once or twice pinnatifid or pinnatisect; radical ones rarely entire. The plants described below are those best known to gardeners. They will succeed in any light, rich soil; and may be increased by seeds. P. rupestris (rock-loving). fl. fragrant, smaller than those of P. sibirica; corymbs sub-umbellate. May and June. l. membranous, pinnatifid; segments lanceolate, the terminal one large. Stem smoothish or rather downy. h. 1ft. Siberia, 1801. (B. M. 714, under name of Valeriana sibirica.) P. scabiosaefolia (Scabious-leaved). fl disposed in loose, rather panicled corymbs. May to July. l., radical ones ovate or oblong, deeply serrated, pilose; stem ones pinnatifid, with lanceolate-linear, acute segments, the terminal one being very long. Stem glabrous. h. 1ft. Northern Asia, 1817. (L. B. C. 1340; S. B. F.G. 154.) P. sibirica (Siberian). fl. with a fragrance somewhat like that of Jessamine. May and June. l. rather fleshy; radical ones spathulate, entire, toothed or serrated, but sometimes pinnatifid at the apex; cauline ones pinnate, with entire, usually obtuse, segments. Stem glabrous. h. 1ft. Siberia, &c., 1751. (B. M. 2325, under name of Valeriana ruthenica.)