394 Select Plants for Industrial Culture 



Valeriana officinalis, Linne. 



Europe, Northern and Middle Asia, in swampy grass-land, with a 

 predilection for forests and river-banks. In Norway it extends north- 

 ward to lat. 70 22' (Prof. Schuebeler). This perennial herb would 

 do particularly well on higher mountains. It is the only one among 

 numerous congeners of Europe, Asia and America, which is drawn to 

 a considerable extent into medicinal use. The root and herb contain 

 valerianic acid and a peculiar tannic acid; the root furnishes also an 

 essential oil, which again resolves itself into valerol (70 per cent), 

 valeren, barneol and valerianic acid. Concerning these see Huse- 

 mann and Hilger's Pflanz ens toff e 1884. The order of Yalerianeae is 

 not represented by any native plant in Australia. 



Valerianella olitoria, Moench. 



Lamb's Lettuce. Europe, North-Africa, Northern and Middle 

 Asia. Northward to lat. 59 16' in Norway. A fair and early salad- 

 plant. It is an annual, and has several congeners in Europe and 

 Asia. V. eriocarpa (Desvaux) is similarly utilitarian. With still 

 more force this may be said of the co-ordinal Fedia cornucopias 

 (Gaertner). The seeds will keep about five years (Vilmorin). 



Vangneria infausta, Burchell. 



From tropical Africa to Natal and Caffraria. The fruit of this 

 shrub or small tree is medlar-like, but superior in taste. Worth test- 

 cultivation with a view of improving the fruit. V. edulis (Vahl) from 

 the warmer regions of Africa and from Madagascar proved hardy 

 as far south as Port Jackson, and yields esculent rather small fruits. 



Veratrum album, Linn. 



Europe, Northern and Middle Asia, extending eastward to Japan. 

 Hardy still at Christiania. It delights particularly in sub-alpine 

 localities. The root furnishes veratrin, jervin and sabadillic acid. 

 The root is used in medicine particularly for external applications. 



Veratrum viride, Aiton. 



Canada and United States of North- America. A near relative of 

 the former plant. Professor Schuebeler found it hardy in Norway to 

 lat. 71. Its root has recently come into medicinal use,- especially as 

 an arterial sedative (Porcher). 



Verbascum Thapsus, Linn. 



The Mullein. A biennial herb of some use in medicine, but 

 adapted also for scenic cultural effects. 



Veronica Virginica, Linn. 



Eastern North- America. A perennial herb, which for medicinal 

 use furnishes the " Culver's-root," from which again the Leptandrin 

 as a chologogue is prepared. The showy shrubby species, such as 

 Y. speciosa (R. Cunningham) of New Zealand and their hybrids 

 can easily be multiplied from cuttings in the open air; they are grate- 

 ful in culture, and afford good material for table-bouquets. 



