STURTEVANT S NOTES ON EDIBLE PLANTS 59I 



Vanilla aromatica Sw. Orchideae. vanilla. 



Tropical America. This species is said to be cultivated in the isles of France and 

 Bourbon. The pods constitute one of the vanillas of commerce.' 



V. guianensis Splitg. 



Tropical America. This species is described as jaelding an aromatic fruit. 



V. planifolia Andr. vanilla. 



West Indies and Mexico. The best vanilla is the produce of this species but several 

 other South American species are also used. The product is employed very extensively 

 for flavoring. 



Vateria indica Linn. Dipterocarpeae. dammar. 



East Indies. This species is a tree of Ceylon from whose seeds the natives make a 

 kind of bread.^ 



Veitchia joannis H. Wendl. Palmae. 



Fiji Islands. The kernel has a slightly astringent taste but is eaten readily by the 

 natives of Viti, especially the youngsters.' 



Veltheimia. Liliaceae. 



Eastern equatorial Africa. This plant grows in the swamps of the Nile, and its 

 flowers are utilized as a spinach.* 



Veratrum viride Ait. Liliaceae. Indian poke, white hellebore. 



North America. Josselyn ' probably referred to this plant when mentioning a smalli 

 round-leafed tobacco as utilized by the New England Indians. 



Veronica anagallis Linn. Scrophularineae. water speedwell. 



Northern climates. The plant is considered to be antiscorbutic* 



V. beccabunga Linn, brooklime. water pimpernel. 



Northern climates. Lightfoot ' says of brooklime, " it is esteemed an anti-scorbutic 

 and is eaten by some in the spring as a sallet, but it is more bitter and not so agreeable 

 to the palate as watercresses." Loudon * says it is used in Britain as a salad. 



V. officinalis Linn, fluellen. speedwell. 



Northern climates. The leaves of this species were recommended by Hoffman ' as 

 a tea substitute, but Withering '" says it is more astringent and less grateful than tea. 



U. S. Disp. 849. 1865. 



Hooker, W. J. Journ. Bot. 2:239. 1840. 

 ' Seemann, B. Fl. Viti. 272. 1865-73. 



Speke, J. H. Journ. Disc. Source Nile 584. 1864. 

 'Josselyn, J. New Eng. Rar. 103. 1865. 1672 original date. 



Masters, M. T. Treas. Bot. 2:1211. 1 870. 

 'Lightfoot,;. Fl. Scot. 1:73. 1789. 



' Loudon, J. C. Hort. 683. i860. 

 Johnson, C. P. Useful Pis. Gt. Brit. 193. 1862. 

 Sinclair, G. Hort. Gram. Woburn. 330. 1869- 



