IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 347 



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Vigna lanceolata, Bentham. 



Tropical and sub-tropical Australia. Mr. O'Shanesy observes 

 that this twiner produces, along with the ordinary cylindrical 

 pods, others underground from buried flowers, and these 

 somewhat resemble the fruit of Arachis. The plant is avail- 

 able for culinary purposes. 



Vigna Sinensis, Endlicher.* (Dolichos Sinensis, Linne.) 



Tropical Asia and Africa. The cultivation of this twining 

 annual pulse-herb extends to Southern Europe and many other 

 countries with a temperate clime. The pods are remarkable 

 for their great length, and used like French beans, dry as 

 well as green. V. Catjang (A. Rich), V. sesquipedalis, and 

 V. melanophthalma are varieties of this species. In fair soil 

 the produce is forty-fold. 



Villebrunia integrifolia, Gaudichaud. 



India, ascending the Himalayan Mountains to 5,000 feet. A 

 small tree, allied to the Eami plant, Boehmeria nivea. Mr. 

 C. B. Clarke regards the fibre as one of the strongest avail- 

 able in India, it being used for bow-strings. Other Villebru- 

 nias for instance, V. frutescens, and also some species of 

 Debregeasia, particularly D. velutina deserve likewise re- 

 gular culture, for the sake of their fibre. Moist forest tracts 

 seem particularly adapted for these plants, because V. in- 

 tegrifolia grows in Sikkim at an elevation where, according 

 to Dr. G. King, the rainfall ranges from 10U to 200 inches. 

 This fibre is much more easily separable than that of Maoutia 

 Puya, according to Dr. King's observations. 



Viola odorata, Linne. 



The Violet. Middle and South Europe, North Africa, Middle 

 Asia. Passingly alluded to here, as this modest, though lovely, 

 plant should be extensively naturalised in forest glens, to fur- 

 nish its delicate scent for various compositions of perfumery. 



Vitis acetosa, F. v. Mueller. 



Carpentaria and Arnhem's Land. Stems rather herbaceous 

 than shrubby, erect. The whole plant is pervaded with 

 acidity, and proved valuable in cases of scurvy. The berries 

 are edible. This species, if planted in countries with a tem- 

 perate clime, would likely spring annually afresh from the roots. 



Vitis sestivalis, Michaux.* 



The Summer Grape of the United States of North America. 



