IN EXTRA-TROPICAL COUNTRIES. 349 



Vaccinium uliginosum, Linne". 



British Bog-Bilberry. Europe, North and Middle Asia, North 

 America. A deciduous bush, with blackish berries, similar to those 

 of Y. Myrtillus, but hardly of equal excellence. 



Vaccinium vacillans, Solander. 



North America, in sandy forest lands. A deciduous small 

 bush, coming with its blue berries later into season than V. 

 Pennsylvanicum. 



Vaccinium Vitis Idsea, Linne". 



Europe, North and Middle Asia, North America. A dwarf shrub 

 with evergreen leaves. The purplish-red berries are sought for 

 jellies and other preserves. It is as yet impossible to say how many 

 other species of Yaccinium produce good-sized and well-flavoured 

 fruits. The genus ranges in many species from Continental Asia 

 to the Indian Archipelagus, and has a wide extension also in South 

 America, occupying in hot countries higher mountain regions, but 

 few reliable notes on the tropical species are extant, as far as the 

 fruits are concerned. 



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



West Africa, up to 2,500 feet. This may prove hardy. Welwitsch 

 describes the Aboh fruits 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. Y. florida 

 yields also caoutchouc, and so Y. Heudelotii (Landolphia Heudelotii, 

 Cand.) from the Senegal regions. The excellent work on caoutchoucs 

 of commerce, by James Collins, may be consulted as regards the 

 sources of various kinds of India-rubbers. The genus Yahea was 

 fully established by Lamarck so early as 1791. 



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 

 Yaheas, yields the West African and Madagascar caoutchouc. 

 Y. Owariensis produces edible fruits as large as middle-sized 

 oranges, with sweet and slightly acid pulp. 



Valeriana Celtica, Linne\ 



Alps of Europe. 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 



