AND GENERAL HORTlCULTtJEE. 



477 



VER 



Vervain. See Verbena. 



Blue American. Verbena hastata. 

 Kocliy Mountain. Verbena montana {V. Au- 

 blttia). 



Vesica'iia. From vesica, a bladder or blister; 

 alluding to the inflated pods. Nat. Ord. Cru^ 

 ciferw. 



A genus of about twentj- species of annual 

 or perennial herbs, natives of North America, 

 Europe, Asia and the Andes. A few species 

 are worthy of cultivation, the others being 

 straggly and weedy in appearance. The best 

 known are V. grceca and V. utricidata, which 

 have both been long in cultivation and flour- 

 ish on dry, sunny parts of the rock-garden in 

 dryish soil. They are easily increased by 

 seeds. 



Vesicle. A small bladder or air cavity. 



Vesicular, Vesicvilose. Inflated, bladdery. 



Vesli'ugia. Named after John Vesling, once 

 Professor of Botany at Padua. Nat. Ord. 

 Compositce. 



A small genus of tropical African annuals 

 with yellow flower-heads. Accoiding to Ben- 

 tharaand Hooker, Guizotia is the 2)roper name 

 of this genus. 



Vespertine. Appearing or expanding early in 

 the evening. 



Vespu'ccia. Commemorative of Amerigo Ves- 

 pucci. Nat. Ord. AlismacecB. 



A small genus of aquatic plants, natives of 

 tropical South America. Limnocharis Hum- 

 boldtii has been referred to this genus, but is 

 now placed by Bentham and Hooker under 

 Hydrocleis as H. Commersoni. 



Ve'stia. Chilian Bos Thorn. Named in honor 

 of L. C. de Vest, Professor at Gratz, 177G- 

 1840. Nat. Ord. Solanacem. 



V. lycioides, the only described species, is 

 an interesting, erect, branching, green-house 

 shrub, with yellow flowers, pendulous from 

 the tips of the branches. It was introduced 

 from Chili in 1815, and is propagated by cut- 

 tings. 



Vetch. The common name for the genus Vieia. 

 Bastard or Bladder. The genus Phaca. 

 Bitter. See Orobus. 

 Bitter Black. Ervum Ervilia. 

 Bush. Vicia sejyium. 

 Chickling. A common name for Lathyriis 



sativus. 

 Common. Vicia sativa. 

 Crown. A popular name for the genus Coro- 



nilla. 

 Horce-shoe. Hippocrepis comosa. 

 Indian. Ervum disper.s7num. 

 Kidney. Anthyllis vulneraria. 

 Liquorice. A common name for Astragalus 



glycyphyllos. 

 Milk. See Astragalus. 

 Tufted. Vicia Cracca. 

 Wood. Vicia sylvatica and V. Americana. 

 Yellow-flowered. Vicia lutea. 

 Vetchling. Meadow. Lathyrus Nissolia. 

 Pea. Lathyrus pisiformis. 

 Yellow-flowered. Lathyrus Aphaca. 

 Vibu'rnum. Arrow-wood, Laurustinus. From 

 vieo, to tie, because of tht^ pliability of some 

 of the branches. Nat. Ord. CuprifoUacem. 



An extensive genus of ornamental shrubs, 

 generally with terminal corymbs of white 

 flowers. One of the best known species is 



VIC 



V. tinus, popularly known as Laurustinus, an 



evergreen bush or low shrub, with white 

 flowers that are rose-colored in the bud. It is 

 a desirable house plant (when it can be kept 

 at a low temperature), as it is easy of cultiva- 

 tion and keeps in flower nearly the whole win- 

 ter. It thrives finely in the Southern States, 

 planted in the open border. V. Lenlago, a 

 native species, common from Maine to Georgia, 

 isa ver}' handsome, low-growing tree, and well 

 worth a place on the lawn. Its rich green foli- 

 age and profusion of flowers in spring, and its 

 numerous clusters of fruit and richly-colored 

 foliage in autumn, enhance its value as an 

 ornamental tree. This is commonly known as 

 Sweet Viburnum or Sheep Berry. The Way- 

 faring Tree or Hobble-bush (F. lantanoides) is 

 another interesting small tree ; and V. cotini- 

 folium is a beautiful species from Nepal. The 

 most interesting kind of Viburnum grown in 

 small gardens is, however, the Gueldres, or 

 Guelder Rose, or Snowball Tree, V. opulus. 

 This is a deciduous shrub, found in Europe 

 and Asia, as well as plentifully in this country 

 northward, and southward along the Allegha- 

 nies. The sterile variety of this species (var. 

 sterilis, the Snowball Tree) may be found in 

 every shrubbery, and, though so common, is 

 still among the best of all shrubs. In a wild 

 state its principal beauty lies in its bright red 

 berries, which are edible, and are used as a sub- 

 stitute for Cranberries, whence its common 

 name, Cranberry Tree . V. plicatum, from North 

 Cliina, is a most beautiful hardy species, and of 

 better habit than the preceding. It is a dwarf- 

 spreading bush, with deeply wrinkled foliage. 

 In summer every branch is wreathed with 

 clusters of snow-white, sterile flowers, larger 

 and whiter than those of the common Snow- 

 ball Tree. It likes a warm, sheltered situa- 

 tion, and is a shrub of the highest merit. 

 Most of the Viburnums are hardy. They are 

 generally propagated by layers, but cuttings 

 will strike freely if kept moist, and in a shady 

 situation. When transplanted, the evergreen 

 species should be removed in October or 

 November, as they have few flbrous roots, 

 and are very apt to be killed by a continuance 

 of dry weather if they are transplanted in 

 spring. 



Vi'cia. Vetch. Tare. From vincio, to bind 

 together ; referring to the clasping tendrils. 

 Nat. Ord. Leguminosce. 



A very extensive genus of hardy climbing 

 annuals and herbaceous climbing perennials. 

 Some are common weeds, while others are 

 grown for food for all kinds of cattle. V.faba 

 (syn. Faba vidgaris), the English or Broad 

 Windsor Bean, and more particularly its 

 variety, V. f. equina, the Horse Bean, are 

 largely grown in Europe for this purpose. 

 They are mostly natives of Europe, a few spe- 

 cies only being found in this country. The 

 ornamental species are generally pretty climb- 

 ing plants, with purplish flowers ; some of the 

 kinds, howevei', have white, some pink, others 

 blue, and others pale yellow flowers. All the 

 kinds grow freely, though they thrive best 

 when the soil is deep and sandy. They are 

 propagated by seeds or division of the roots. 



Victo'ria. Named in honor of Queen Victoria of 

 Great Britain. Nat. Ord. Nymphoeceoe. 



A magniflcent genus of plants, consisting of 

 one species, as some think, or three species, 



