240 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS. 



sweet, turfy loam; clayey or sandy soils should 

 be avoided in the selection of the bed. 



Verbena, Sweet-Scented. See^l%sia. 



Verbena, Lemon. See Aloysia. 



Veronica. Speedwell. The derivation of the 

 word is unknown. Linn. Diandria-Monogyniu. 

 Nat. Ord. Scrophulariacea>. 



An extensive genus of, for the most part, 

 hardy ornamental plants, well adapted for the 

 borders of the flower garden. Their stature va- 

 ries from creeping plants to others three or four 

 feet high. The prevailing color is blue, though 

 white, pink, red, and purple are found among 

 them. The green-house species deserve atten- 

 tion, being easy to grow and flower, and they 

 are handsome in foliage, habit, and inflorescence. 

 This class delights in a mixture of leaf mould and 

 loam, and with plenty of root room speedily 

 make fine specimens. The species usually met 

 in the green-house are from New South Wales. 

 The hardy herbaceous species are distributed 

 throughout the temperate regions of both conti- 

 nents. Propagated by cuttings. 



Vervain. See Verbena. 



Verschaffeltia. A genus of very beautiful Palms 

 from the Seychelle Islands, formerly known as 

 Regelia. 



Vetch. See Ficia. 



Vetchling. Everlasting Pea. See Laihyras. 



Viburnum. Arrow-wood, Laurestinu8 t From 

 weo, to tie, because of the pliability of some of 

 the branches. Linn. Pentandria-Trigynia. Nat. 

 Ord. CaprifoliacecK. 



An extensive genus of ornamental shrubs, gen- 

 erally with terminal corymbs of white flowers. 

 One of the best known species is V. tinus, popu- 

 larly known as Laurestinus, an evergreen bush 

 or low shrub, with white flowers that are rose- 

 colored in the bud. It is a desirable house 

 plant, (when it can be kept at a low tempera- 

 ture,) as it is easy of cultivation and keeps in 

 flower nearly the whole winter. It will thrive 

 finely in the Southern States, planted in the 

 open border. V. Lentago, a native species, com- 

 mon from Maine to Georgia, is a very handsome 

 low-growing tree, and well worth a place on the 

 lawn. Its rich green foliage and profusion of 

 flowers in spring, its numerous clusters of fruit 

 and richly- colored foliage in autumn, enhance 

 its value as an ornamental tree. This is com- 

 monly known as Sweet Viburnum, or Sheep Berry 

 The Wayfaring Tree, or Wild Guelder Rose, ( V, 

 lanianoidei, ) is another interesting small tree ; and 

 V. cotinlfolium is a beautiful species from Nepal 

 The most interesting kind of Viburnum grown 

 in small gardens is, However, the Guelder Rose, 

 or Snowball Tree, V. opulus. This is a deciduous 

 shrub, a native of Europe and part of Asia, and 

 is usually found in swampy thickets. In a wild 

 state its principal beauty lies in its bright red 

 berries; but m a state of cultivation its heads of 



most desirable of the species, and is of a better 

 nabit than the preceding. Most of the Vibur- 

 nums are hardy. They are generally propagated 

 by layers but cuttings will strike freely if kept 

 moist, and in a shady situation. When trans- 

 planted, the evergreen species should be re- 

 moved m October or November, as they have 

 lew fibrous roots, and are very apt to be killed 

 by a continuance of dry weather if they are 

 transplanted in spring. 

 Vicia. Vetch. From vincio, to bind together; re- 



VIO 



ferring to the clasping tendrils. Linn. Diadel- 

 phia-Decandria. Nat. Ord. Fabacece. 



A very extensive genus of hardy climbing 

 annuals* and herbaceous climbing perennials. 

 Some are common weeds, while others are grown 

 for food for all kinds of cattle. They are mostly 

 natives of Europe, one or two only being found 

 in this country. The ornamental species are 

 generally pretty climbing plants, with purplish 

 flowers. They are natives of Europe. Some of 

 the kinds, however, have white, some pink, 

 others blue, and others pale yellow flowers. All 

 the kinds grow freely, though they thrive best 

 when the soil is deep and sandy. They are prop- 

 agated by seeds or division of the roots. 

 Victoria. Named in honor of her Majesty, Queen 

 Victoria of England. Linn. Polyandria-M&no- 

 gynia. Nat. Ord. Nymphcnacece. 



A magnificent genus of plants, consisting of 

 one species, as some think, or three species, ac- 

 cording to others. Dr. Masters, in the Treasury 

 of Botany, speaking of these noble plants, says: 

 "They are aquatic plants, with thick, fleshy 

 root-stocks, marked with the scars of former 

 leaves, and sending upward numerous long, 

 cylindrical leaf-stalks, which are traversed in 

 the interior by several air-canals, the larger of 

 them arranged with much regularity, and are 

 thickly covered on the outside by stout conical 

 prickles. These prickles have spiral vessels and 

 a small cavity in their interior, opening by a little 

 pore at the top. From the under surface of the 

 base of the leaf-stalks numerous adventitious 

 roots are given out. The blade of the leaf is pel- 

 tate, circular in outline, and when fully developed 

 is from six to twelve feet in diameter, its mai-gin 

 uniformly turned upward to the extent of two 

 or three inches, so that the leaves, when float- 

 ing, have the appearance of so many large, shal- 

 low trays. The upper surface of the leaf is of a 

 rich green color, and studded with little boss- 

 like prominences. The lower surface is of a 

 deep purple or violet hue, and traversed by 

 several very prominent nerves, which radiate 

 from the center to the margin of the leaf, and 

 are connected one with another by smaller 

 nerves running transversely, so that the whole 

 of the under surface is divided by compart- 

 ments into a number of irregularly quadrangu- 

 lar spaces or cells. The nerves themselves are 

 permeated by air canals, and covered by strong 

 spines. Thus the enormous leaves are well 

 adapted to float on the water; and the extent of 

 surface exposed is so great that a considerable 

 weight can be supported without submerging 

 them. Even a child of twelve years of age may 

 be borne up, if the precaution be taken of first 

 placing on the leaf a small piece of board, to 

 prevent the feet from tearing and slipping 

 through its surface. The flower-stalk has a 

 similar outward appearance to that of the leaf, 

 but is stouter, and its air-canals are arranged in 

 a different manner. The flower bud before ex- 

 pansion is pear-shaped. The calyx is adherent 

 below to the ovary, and is here covered with 

 prickles; its limb, however, is destitute of these 

 appendages, and is divided into four ovate de- 

 ciduous sepals, of n, rich purple tint externally, 

 and whitish internally. The petals are very 

 numerous, in several rows, and (as in our com- 

 mon Water Lily) exhibit a gradual transition 

 in their form to that of the stamens, so that it 

 is somewhat difficult in all cases to decide where 

 the one set of parts ceases and the others begin. 

 The outer petals are rather larger than the sepals 



