in Extra-Tropical Countries. 393 



Vaccinium Vitis Idaea, Linne". 



Europe, Northern and Middle Asia, North-America. Extends in 

 Greenland to 76 N. L. (Nathorst); therefore fit for subglacier- 

 regions. A dwarf shrub Avith evergreen leaves. The purplish-red 

 berries are sought for jellies and other preserves. It is as yet impos- 

 sible to say, how many other species of Vaccinium produce good-sized 

 and well-flavored fruits. The genus ranges also in tropical species 

 from Continental Asia to the Indian Archipelagus, and has a wide 

 extension likewise in South-America, occupying in hot countries 

 higher mountain-regions; but few reliable notes on the tropical species 

 are extant as far as their fruits are concerned. 



Vahea florida, F. v. Mueller. (Landolphia florida, Bentham.) 



West-Africa, up to 2,500 feet. This may prove hardy in mild 

 extra-tropic regions. Dr. Welwitsch describes the Aboh-fruit of this 

 species as sweet and acidulous, but was not less gratified with the 

 beauty and marvellous abundance of its large snow-white and jasmin- 

 scented flowers. V. florida also yields caoutchouc, like V. Heudelotii 

 (Landolphia Heudelotii, D.C.) from the Senegal -regions. The 

 genus Vahea was fully established by Lamarck as early as 1791. The 

 excellent work on the caoutchoucs of commerce, by James Collins, 

 may be consulted as regards the sources of various kinds of India- 

 rubbers. Prof. Wiesner (Rohstoffe des Pflanzenreichs, 1873) enumer- 

 ates at p. 15-4-156 the various plants then known to yield caoutchouc, 

 giving also a chemical account of these substances. 



Vahea Owariensis, F. v. Mueller. (Landolphia Owariensis^ Beauvois.) 



Tropical West-Africa, but ascending to the highlands of Angola, 

 according to Dr. Welwitsch. This climber, with several other Vaheas, 

 yields the West-African caoutchouc ; others furnish the Madagascar- 

 sort, particularly V. gummifera (Lamarck), now cultivated also in 

 India. Prof. Wiesner of Vienna enumerates 47 species of various 

 genera, which yield either rubber, gutta percha, or balata. It is said, 

 that the addition of ammonia to the sap improves the rubber. V. 

 Owariensis produces edible fruits as large as middle-sized oranges, 

 with sweet and slightly acid pulp. 



Valeriana Celtica, Linne". 



Alps of Europe; hardy at Christiania. The " Speik." The root 

 of this perennial herb is particularly aromatic. 



Valeriana edulis, Nuttall. 



North- Western America, from Oregon to the Rocky Mountains. 

 The thick spindle-shaped root of this herb affords food to the natives 

 of that part of the globe. When baked, the root proves agreeable and 

 wholesome. When we consider the wild state of the plants, from 

 which many of our important root-crops arose, this Valeriana and 

 several other plants, suggestively mentioned in these pages, may well 

 be admitted for trial-culture. 



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