VANILLA OF ECONOMIC PLANTS. 425 



handling the leaves or branches, and the juice, mixed with other 

 ingredients, forms a deadly arrow poison. 



Urari, an Indian name for a poison made from the bark of 

 Strijchnos toxifera, a straggling-branched small tree of tlie Nux 

 Vomica family (Loganiaceaj), native of British Guiana and the 

 upper regions of the Orinoco and Amazon. It has sessile, ovate, 

 elliptical leaves, with well-marked longitudinal veins. The 

 famous poison of the natives {see Blowpipe), called Ourari, 

 Wourali, and Curarie, is obtained from the bark, which is 

 stripped off and macerated in water. After lying some time 

 the water is evaporated, when a black sediment resembling tar 

 is left. This substance is harmless when eaten, but is fatal 

 when it comes in contact with the blood through wounds. The 

 flesh of animals poisoned by it is, nevertheless, perfectly whole- 

 some. The mode of preparation of Urari poison is kept as a 

 secret by the Indians. Dr. Schomburgk found that it consists 

 of eight ingredients, five of which are known to botanists ; three 

 of these are said to be species of Strychnos, and it is expected 

 that the others belong to the same genus. Other plants are 

 mentioned by different writers as being connected with tlie 

 preparation of this poison. This may be so, or may be simply 

 a statement to throw more mystery over the manufacture. 



Vacoua. {See Screw Pine.) 



Valerian. — Valeriana officinalis and V. dioica, perennial 

 herbs of the Valerian family (Valerianacea?), natives of Britain, 

 in moist places. They are extensively collected for tlieir 

 medicinal properties, which are of an antispasmodic character ; 

 the plants possess a strong, disagreeable smell, but cats and rats 

 are very fond of them. Its leaves are very efficacious in the 

 cure of wounds, hence it is sometimes called All-heal. An 

 allied species, V. capensis, is a native of the Cape of Good Hope, 

 and possesses similar properties, but is not so powerful. 



Valonia. {See Oak.) 



Vanilla {Vanilla planifolia)^ an epiphytal phint of the 

 Orchid family (Orchidaceoe), growing somewliat like ivy, with 

 thick laurel-like leaves, native of the "West Indies and tropi- 



