Naturalisation in Extra-Tropical Countries. 559 



Vigna lanceolata, Bentham. 



Tropical and sub-tropical Australia. Mr. P. O'Shanesy observes, 

 that this twiner produces, along with the ordinary cylindrical pods, 

 others underground from buried flowers, and these somewhat resemble 

 the fruit of Arachis. The plant might be rendered perhaps available 

 for culinary purposes. 



Sinensis, Endlicher.* (Dolichos Sinensis, Humph.) 

 The Cherry-Bean, also called Cow-Pea. Tropical Asia and Africa. 

 The cultivation of this twining annual pulse-herb extends to Southern 

 Europe, the United States and many other countries with a tem- 

 perate clime. Cultivated as Phaseolus and Faseolus already by the 

 ancients [Koernicke]. The pods are remarkable for their great 

 length, to 2 feet and occasionally 3 feet, and used like French beans, 

 dry as well as preferentially also green. This plant bears plentifully 

 even in seasons of severe drought in Central Australia [Rev. H. 

 Kempe]. On the other hand it bears well in South-Gippsland 

 [Walter Johnson]. Can be sown later than and on ground too dry 

 for ordinary peas and beans [Revd. R. Thorn, of Mansfield, Victoria]. 

 At the base of the New England mountains a prodigious bearer of 

 beans of fine flavour [Crawford]. It is satisfied with comparatively 

 poor soil. V. Catjang, V. unguiculata, V. sesquipedalis and V. 

 melanophthalma are varieties of this species. In fair soil the pro- 

 duce is about forty-fold. The Laubich-grains of Egypt are from a 

 variety of this species [Sir J. Hooker]. 



Vigna vexillata, Bentham. 



In the inter-tropic regions round the world, also South-Africa and 

 Eastern-Australia far outside the tropics. The seeds are small. The 

 roots are edible and amazingly liked by the aborigines of Queens- 

 land. 



Villebrunia integrifolia, Gaudichaud. 



India, ascending the Himalayan mountains to 5,000 feet. A 

 small tree, allied to the Ramie-plant (Boehmeria nivea). Mr. C. 

 B. Clarke regards the fibre as one of the strongest available in India, 

 it being used for bow-strings. Other Villebrunias for instance, 

 V. frutescens, and also some species of Debregeasia, particularly D. 

 velutina likewise deserve regular culture, for the sake of their fibre. 

 Moist forest-tracts seem particularly adapted for these plants, because 

 V. integrifolia grows in Sikkim at an elevation, where the rainfall 

 ranges from 100 to 200 inches. This fibre is much more easily 

 separable than that of Maoutia Puya, according to Dr. G. King's 

 observations. 



Vinca major, Linne. 



From Middle Europe to Northern Africa and Eastern Asia. A 

 somewhat climbing plant, adapted for covering large tubs of Palms 

 and Treeferns. 



