1928 



VICIA 



A. Plant stiff and erect, usually bearing no tendrils, 

 cultivated for the beans (Faba). 



Faba, Linn. (Faba vulgaris, Moeneh. F. satlva, 

 Bernh ). BROAD BEAN. WINDSOR BEAN. ENGLISH 

 DWARF BEAN. Figs. 190, 191, Vol. I. Strong, erect an- 

 nual, 2-4 ft., glabrous or nearly so, very leafy: leaflets 

 2-6, the lower ones not opposite on the rachis, the ter- 

 minal one wanting or represented by a rudimentary 

 tendril, oval to elliptic and obtuse or mucronate-pointed : 

 fls. in the axils, dull white and with a large blue-black 

 spot; pods large and thick, from 2 or 3 inches even to 

 18 in. long, the seeds large and often flat. Probably na- 

 tive to northern Africa and S.W. Asia. Much grown in 

 the Old World, but the hot dry summers prevent its 

 cultivation in most parts of the U. S. It is grown suc- 

 cessfully in parts of Canada, particularly in the mari- 

 time provinces. The plant is grown mostly for cattle 

 feeding, although the beans may be used, both full 

 grown and immature, for human food. This bean has 

 been cult, from prehistoric times and its nativity is in 

 doubt. The plant is hardy and seeds should be sown 

 early, when the season is cool. 



AA. Plant weak, usually climbing by means of ten- 

 drils that represent leaflets. 

 B. Fls. about 2 in the axils, sessile or nearly so. 



sativa, Linn. SPRING VETCH or TARE. Annual or bi- 

 ennial, not surviving the winter in the North, more or 

 less pubescent, 2-3 ft. high: Ifts. 7 pairs or less, ellip- 

 tic, oblong or oblanceolate, mostly truncate and apicu- 

 late at the top, the tendril part of the leaf extended: 

 fls. usually 2 in each axil, about 1 in. long, purplish: 

 pods 2-3 in. long when mature. Eu., and naturalized 

 in some parts of the U. S. Much cult, abroad as a for- 

 age plant; in this country grown for similar purposes 

 and also somewhat as a cover-crop for orchards. Seeds 

 sometimes used for making flour. Thfre is a white- 

 seeded and also a large-seeded variety. 



2667. Vicia villosa. the Hairy Vetch (X %). 



BB. Fls. several to many in peduncled clusters. 

 C. Blossoms small and usually not very snowy, mostly 

 bluish, in loose often 1-sided clusters: plants 

 grown mostly for forage or in wild gardens. 



D . Leaflets usually less than 9 pairs. 



villdsa, Roth. HAIRY or WINTER VETCH. Fig 2667 



Annual or biennial (sometimes perennial 1 ?), enduring 



the winters in the North, villous-pubescent: Ifts. 5-7 or 



:e pairs, elliptic-oblong, rounded at the tip but usu- 



VICTORIA 



ally ending in a very minute point: fls. violet-blue, in 

 long 1-sided axillary racemes. Eu., Asia. Now con- 

 siderably used as a cover-crop. 



Americana, Muhl. Perennial, nearly or quite gla- 

 brous: Ifts. elliptic to oblong, obtuse or sometimes 

 emarginate at the apex: fls. purplish, about % in. long, 

 in few-fld. loose racemes. Moist lands across the conti- 

 nent and as far south as Ky. Has been offered by 

 dealers in native plants. 



Caroliniana, Walt. Perennial, nearly or quite gla- 

 brous: Ifts. oblong to linear-oblong, usually obtuse or 

 emargiiiate: fls. nearly white, % in. or less long, in 

 several- to many-fld. loose racemes. Minn, and Kans. 

 eastward. Has been offered. 



oroboides, Wulf. (Orobus latliyroldes , Sibth. & Sm.). 

 Perennial, 2-3 ft. tall: Ivs. 3-5 pairs, oval-lanceolate, 

 very acute : fls. handsome, violet-blue, small, in 2 or 3 

 short clusters each axil. 



DD. Leaflets usually 9 or more pairs on full-sized Irs. 



gigantea, Hook. Perennial, pubescent, high-climb- 

 ing: Ifts. ,.10-15 pairs, narrow-oblong, obtuse and mu- 

 cronulate: tts. about % in. long, pale purple, in 7-18- 

 fld. racemes. Calif, and north. Has been offered by 

 dealers in natives. 



Cracca, Linn. Perennial, usually pubescent: Ifts. 

 9-12 pairs, thin, linear to oblong, mucronate: fls. pur- 

 plish, about % in. long in a rather dense raceme. 

 Across the continent and south to Ky. ; also in Eu. and 

 Asia. Offered by some dealers. 



Gerardi, Vill. Described as a hardy annual: pubes- 

 cent: lifts, numerous, narrow-oblong, very obtuse but 

 with a short mucro: fls. violet, small, in short racemes. 

 S. Eu. Offered by seedsmen as a flower-garden sub- 

 ject. 



CO. Blossoms red and showy, in dense spikes or spike- 

 like racemes: flower-garden subject. 



fulgens, Batt. Annual, 3-5 ft., pubescent: Ifts. 8-12 

 pairs, oblong or lance-linear, mucronate: fls. small, red 

 or nearly scarlet and purple-striped, in a compact ra- 

 ceme or spike. Algeria. Recently introduced. 



L. H. B. 



VICK, JAMES (Plate XLI), seedsman and editor, was 

 born at Portsmouth, Eng., Nov. 23, 1818, and died at 

 Rochester, N. Y., May 16, 1882. He came to America 

 at the age of 12, learned the printer's trade, and in 1850 

 became editor of the " Genesee Farmer," then published at 

 Rochester by Luther Tucker and subsequently absorbed 

 by "The Cultivator." In 1853 he purchased Downing's 

 magazine, "The Horticulturist," and published it fora 

 time, the editor being Patrick Barry. In 1860 Vick en- 

 tered the seed business and his trade soon grew to large 

 proportions. For about 20 years his name was a house- 

 hold word, being associated especially with flowers. In 

 1878 he founded "Vick's Magazine," which is still pub- 

 lished. Vick's personality was thoroughly amiable, and 

 his letters in " Vick's Magazine "to children and to garden 

 lovers everywhere show the great hold he had on the 

 hearts of the people. -^ jj 



VICT&BIA (in honor of Queen Victoria). Nymplice- 

 acece. ROYAL WATER-LILY. This remarkable aquatic 

 genus may be recognized by its huge, round, floating 

 leaves often 6 feet or more in diameter, with the mar- 

 gin turned up at right angles to the water surface to a 

 height of 3-8 inches, making a basin-like object. The 

 fls. (12-18 in. across) are nocturnal, opening on two suc- 

 cessive days about 4.30 p. M. and remaining 1 open until 

 the middle of the following morning. The first evening 

 the inner floral Ivs. remain loosely closed over the 

 stigma, the flower is pure creamy white, and exhales a 

 delicious fragrance somewhat resembling a rich pine- 

 apple; the second evening the floral Ivs. spread widely 

 open, and the color changes to pink or even a deep red. 

 The ovary is inferior, densely prickly, and surmounted 

 by a short, broad tube, on the sides and summit of 

 which the floral Ivs. are situated. Sepals 4; petals 50- 

 70, obtuse, oblong-ovate to sublinear, rather thin and 

 delicate in texture; staminodia about 20; stamens 150- 

 200, linear-lanceolate: paracarpels about 25, forming a 

 ring of thick, fleshy bodies between the stamens and 



