HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



VAL 



Bilberry. An ancient Latin name, whether of a 

 berry or a flower is not satisfactorily known. 

 Linn. Octandria-Monogynia. Nat. Ord. Vaccini- 

 acece. 



An extensive genus of interesting shrubs, 

 many of which are indigenous to the United 

 States, and others to Europe and, the East and 

 West Indies. V. macrocarpa is the High-bush 

 Cranberry, common in bogs North and West. 

 V. stamineum is the Squaw Huckleberry, com- 

 mon in dry woods from Maine to Michigan. 

 V. uUginosum is the Bog Bilberry, a low-growing 

 species, common in high elevations in New 

 England and New York. V. corymbosum is the 

 common or Swamp Blueberry, everywhere com- 

 mon except southward. There are many other 

 species and varieties, the slight difference in 

 them noticeable only by the botanist. For the 

 common Cranberry and its culture, see Oxy- 

 coccus. 



Valerian. See Valeriana. 



Valeriana. Said by some to be named after Va- 

 lerius, who first used it in medicine; others as- 

 sert that it is derived from yalere, to be in 

 health, on account of the medicinal qualities of 

 V. officinalis. Linn. Triandria-Monogynia. Nat. 

 Ord? ValerianacecK. 



Hardy perennials, most of them showy border 



- plants of easy culture. Some of them have long 

 been in cultivation. Those best known are na- 

 tives of Switzerland. There are several native 

 species, from which the tincture of Valerian is 

 obtained. All the species are propagated by 

 division. 



Valerianella. Lamb's Lettuce, Fetticus, Corn 

 Salad. A diminutive of Valerian. Linn. Trian- 

 dria- \fonofjynia. Nat. Ord. Vulerianacece. 



A small genus of succulent herbs, natives of 

 Great Britain. V. olitoria, generally known here 

 as Fetticus, is largely grown under glass as an 

 early spring crop. The cultivation is very sim- 

 ilar to Spinach. Several of the species are under 

 cultivation. 



Vallisneria. Eel Grass, Tape Grass. Named in 

 honor of A. VaUisneri, an Italian botanist. Linn. 

 Dicecia-Diandria. Nat. Ord. Hydrocharidacece . 



A genus of aquatic plants, common in slow- 

 running waters, remarkable on account of the 

 extremely curious manner in which the process 

 of fertilization is effected. The male and female 

 floweraare on different plants, and the latter 

 rise on long spiral stalks, which gradually un- 

 coil above the surface of the water, while the 

 latter are produced at the bottom. Before, how- 

 ever, the anthers burst to discharge the pollen, 

 the male flowers detach themselves from their 

 stalks and rise up to the surface, on which they 

 float like little white bubbles. After the pollen 

 has been distributed over the stigmas, the male 

 flowers wither, and the spiral stalks of the fe- 

 males coil up again so as to draw the seed-vessel 

 under the water, that it may ripen at the bottom, 

 and burst when just in the proper place to de- 

 posit its seeds. Nothing can be more beautiful 

 than the whole arrangement; and nothing can 

 show more strikingly the admirable manner in 

 which the wonderful economy of nature is car- 

 ried on. V. spircdia, the best known and only 

 species in our waters, is admirably adapted for 

 growing in the aquarium. Besides being a beau- 

 tiful evergreen, one of the essentials for the 

 aquarium, one can, by growing it, witness that 

 wonderful and interesting phenomenon in plant 

 life. 



Vallota. Named in honor of Pierre VaUot a 



VAN 



French botanist. Linn. Hexandria-Monogynia. 

 Nat. Ord. Amaryllidacea;. 



V. purpurea, the only known species, is a na- 

 tive of the Cape of Good Hope, where it is 

 found in boggy places. It is an evergreen 

 bulb, producing its splendid spikes of brilliant 

 scarlet blossoms (not purple, as the name im- 

 plies) in August, and occasionally at other 

 periods. It is one of the most showy of the in- 

 teresting family to which it belongs, and the 

 little care required to grow it makes it particu- 

 larly desirable. It does best with ordinary pot 

 culture, requiring liberal watering, except a few 

 months in winter. The bulbs should not often 

 be separated, but occasionally shifted into larger 

 pots when they become thoroughly root-bound. 

 Too frequent shiftings are injurious to this bulb; 

 they do much better when pinched, and it is not 

 an uncommon occurrence to see twenty-five 

 flower spikes, with five to eight flowers each, 

 at one time, from a ten-inch pot of the bulbs. 

 They increase rapidly from offsets, which may be 

 picked off the top of the pot without disturbing 

 the main bulbs. They may be grown success- 

 fully in the border, and dried off in winter like 

 the Gladiolus, except that they should be taken 

 up after a slight frost and packed away in boxes 

 of earth, without disturbing the tops, watering 

 only once or twice during the winter. There 

 are two or three varieties, differing only in the 

 size of the flowers. Introduced in 1774. 



Vanda. Vanda is the Sanscrit name of the origi- 

 nal species of this genus. Linn. Gymndria- 

 Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidacece. 



A genus of magnificent epiphytal Orchids 

 from tropical Asia. Several of the species are 

 found in our best Orchid houses, where they are 

 most conspicuous objects, both on account of 

 the size and beautiful colors and markings of 

 the flowers, and for their delicious fragrance. 

 The plants may be attached to blocks of wood 

 or cork, and suspended from the roof of the 

 house. From March till May the heat should 

 range from 70 to 90. or even more in sunny 

 weather, and every morning and evening they 

 should be surrounded with vapor, besides an 

 application of water from the syringe once a 

 day. From May till September, which with us 

 is the blooming season, the same degree of heat 

 should be maintained, but with a diminution of 

 the moisture as the flowers advance; and after- 

 ward, through the winter, moisture may be 

 withheld, and the temperature reduced to 60. 

 Some of the species have been under cultiva- 

 tion since 1810. V. tricolor, one of the best, was 

 introduced in 1846. Of this species there are 

 some fifteen or more varieties, all of great 

 beauty. They are propagated by carefully de- 

 taching the lateral shoots when about six inches 

 long, and fastening them to a cork. 



Vanilla. An alteration of Vaynilla, which is a 

 diminutive of Vaina, a Spanish word, signifying 

 a sheath; in reference to the cylindrical pod 

 being like the sheath of a knife. Linn. Gynan- 

 dria-Monandria. Nat. Ord. Orchidftfea;. 



A small genus of tropical, climbing Orchids, 

 one of the most important of the whole family, 

 not because of its flowers, but for the commer- 

 cial value of the fruJt, which is universally used 

 in the preparation of extracts for flavoring. 

 The best Vanilla is the produce of V. planifolia, 

 a native of Mexico, but several other South 

 American species are also used. The flowers 

 of this genus are white striped with red, and 

 quite insignificant; these flowers are succeeded 



