356 SELECT PLANTS FOR INDUSTRIAL CULTURE 



berries are of a pleasant taste, but in some instances of a strong 

 flavour ; they are the largest among American Grapes. The Clinton 

 and Elsinboro Grapes, according to Prof. Meehan, the eminent 

 American horticulturist, seem to have had their origin with V. cor- 

 dif olia and Y. riparia. Y. Labrusca extends also to the Himalayas. 

 Dr. Planchon's important memoir, " Les Yignes Americaines," 

 published in 1875, should be consulted in reference to American 

 Grapes. 



Voandzeia subterranea, Thouars. 



Madagascar and various parts of Africa, as far south as Natal. 

 This Earth-Pea is annual, and pushes its pods under ground in the 

 manner of Arachis hypogaea for maturation. The pods are edible 

 and much consumed in tropical countries. 



Wallichia caryotoides, Roxburgh. 



India, up to 4,000 feet elevation (Kurz). A stemless palm, eligible 

 for scenic group-planting. 



Wallichia densiflora, Martius. (W. oUongifolia, Griffith.) 



Himalaya, as far as 27 north. There one of the hardiest of all 

 Palms. It is not a tall one, yet a graceful and useful object for 

 cultural industries. Several other species exist. 



Washingtonia filifera, Wendland. (Pritchardia jilifera, Linden.) 

 (Brahea Jtlifera, Hortulanorum.) 



South California to Arizona and Colorado. One of the most north- 

 ern and therefore most hardy of American Palms. This Palm 

 attains a height of 50 feet. 



Wettinia augusta, Poeppig. 



Peru, on mountains several thousand feet high. This Palm is there- 

 fore likely to endure a temperate clime. 



Wettinia Maynensis, Spruce. 



Cordilleras of Peru. Like the foregoing, it attains a height of 40 

 feet and advances to elevations of 3,000 or 4,000 feet. Before 

 finally parting from the American Palms, it may be appropriate to 

 allude briefly to some of the hardier kinds, which were left un- 

 noticed in the course of this compilation. From Dr. Spruce's 

 important essay on the Palms of the Amazon River may be learnt 

 that, besides other species as yet imperfectly known from the sources 

 of this great river, the following kinds are comparatively hardy; thus 

 they might find places for cultivation or even naturalisation within 

 the limits of extra-tropical countries : Geonema undata (Klotzsch), 

 Iriartea deltoidea (R. and P.), Iriartea ventricosa (Mart.), which 

 latter rises in its magnificence to fully 100 feet ; Iriartea exorrhiza 



