474 



HENDERSON'S HANDBOOK OF PLANTS 



VAR 



Variolate. Marked as if by the pustules or pit- 

 tings of small-pox. 



Varnish Tree. A common name for Ailantus 

 glandulosus, Rhus vernicifera, etc. 



Vascular. Furnished with, or relating to ves- 

 sels or ducts. 



Vasculum. A botanist's collecting-box. The 

 term is also applied to a pitcher-shaped leaf. 



Vases. These are formed of iron, stone, earth- 

 enware etc., and are usually raised on a pedes- 

 tal to a height of four or five feet. They are 

 of various sizes and patterns. The bowls for 

 the soil vary in depth from six to eighteen 

 inches ; but in all cases holes must be made 

 in the bottom (if not already there) to allow 

 free drainage for water, for, without these 

 (and some are made without them), the soil 

 would soon get saturated and sour. Almost 

 the same character of plants is used for plant- 

 ing vases as for window boxes (which see). A 

 very beautiful practice is now in use to plant 

 them in early spring with Pansies, which re- 

 main in bloom until June, the time at which 

 the summer plants are ready to be planted to 

 take their place. Vases are usually exposed 

 to the full force of the sun on the open lawn, 

 and, consequently, require a great deal of 

 watering to keep them in good condition. By 

 mulching the surface with moss during sum- 

 mer, evaporation will be checked and a great 

 deal of labor saved. 



Vauqueli'nia. A genus of Rosacece comprising 

 one species with saw-toothed leaves and pure 

 white flowers. It was first described by Dr. 

 Torrey as Spiraea Californica, but was referred 

 to its right genus by Mr. Watson. It is a na- 

 tive of Mexico, Arizona, etc. 



Vegetable Fire-cracker. A common name for 

 Brodiaca coccinea. 



Vegetable Hair. A name given to Tillandsia 

 usneoidea. 



Vegetable Horse-hair. The fibre of Chamcerops 

 humilis. 



Vegetable Ivory-nut. See Phytolephas. 



Vegetable Marrow or Midshipman's Butter. 

 See Persea. 



Vegetable Marrow. An English name for a 

 variety of summer Squash. The one usually 

 grown is about nine inches long and four to 

 five in diameter. It is used in every stage of 

 its growth, and is particularly tender and 

 sweet. It is grown in all respects like the 

 several varieties of our summer Squashes. 



Vegetable Mercury. See Franciscea. 

 Vegetable Oyster. See Tragopogon porrifolius. 



Vegetable Sheep. A name given to Cibotium 

 Barometz. 



Veins. The small ribs or branches of the frame- 

 work of leaves. 



Vei'tchia. Named in honor of the late James 

 Veitch, of Chelsea, London ; the leading nur- 

 seryman of his day. Nat. Ord. Palmacece. 



A beautiful genus of Palms closely allied to 

 Kentia, with which they are often confounded. 

 Two species are described, and are valued 

 ornaments of our stoves. Introduced from 

 the New Hebrides and Fiji in 1868 (syn. Ken- 

 tia). The name was formerly applied by Dr. 

 Lindley to a curious Japanese conifer, since 

 proven to be a monstrous state of some Picea. 



YEN 



Ve'lla. Said to be Latinized from Veler, a 

 Celtic name for such a plant. Nat. Ord. Cru- 

 cifercB. 



A small genus of much-branched, half- 

 hardy shrubs, natives of Spain. V. Pseudo- 

 cytisus, the species most generally cultivated, 

 has large, yellow flowers, with long, dark 

 purple claws and entire leaves. It may be 

 increased by cuttings in spring. 

 Vellei'a. Named after Major Velley, who was 

 greatly interested in Algce. Nat. Ord. Goode- 

 niaceoB. 



A genus of green-house, perennial herbs, 

 having a short, thick stock and radical leaves, 

 natives of Australia. Their flowers are yel- 

 low, like those of the Goodenia, and they are 

 closely allied to Euthales. 



Vello'zia. Named after Velloz, a Portuguese 

 naturalist, who edited the works of Vandelli 

 on Brazil. Nat. Ord. Amarillidacece. 



The Vellozias are like perennial Lilies, and 

 grow from two to ten feet high, having trunks 

 as large as a man's body, branching, and hav- 

 ing tufts of leaves on the top like the Yucca. 

 The flowers are large, white, blue or violet, 

 produced singly or on slender scapes from 

 the tips of the branches. They are showy 

 and attractive features in the mountain re- 

 gions of Brazil and Australia. Syn. Barbacenia. 

 Velthei'mia. Named in honor of F. A. Velt- 

 heim, a German botanist. Nat. Ord. Liliacece. 



Large-growing bulbs from the Cape of 

 Good Hope. The flowers are flesh-color and 

 of but little beauty, though of long duration. 

 V. viridifolia has beautiful, broad, shining, 

 green leaves, with undulated margins and a 

 flower scape one to two feet long. It is a 

 very interesting and showy species. The 

 bulbs rest the entire summer, and come into 

 bloom in early winter. They are grown from 

 seed, which they produce freely. The bulbs 

 rarely divide or make offsets. Introduced in 

 1781. 



Velvet Flower. A common name for Amaran- 

 thua caudatus. 



Velvet Grass. See Holcus. 



Velvet Leaf. Abutilon Avicennce and Lavatera 

 arborea. 



Venation. The arrangement of veins in a leaf, 

 etc. 



Veiii'dium. Meaning of the name not given. 

 Nat. Ord. Compositce. 



A genus of green-house or half-hardy, per- 

 ennial plants, natives of southern Africa. V. 

 calendulaceum is a low-growing plant, some- 

 what of a trailer, bearing, in summer, a pro- 

 fusion of showy, Marigold-like, yellow blos- 

 soms. Cuttings put in in August root freely, 

 or plants may be readily raised from seeds 

 sown in spring. It is the best of the genus 

 and well worthy of cultivation. 



Venose. Veiny ; having many branched veins. 



Ventila'go. From ventilo, to be exposed to the 

 wind, and ago, to drive away ; in allusion to 

 the fruit being winged, and scattered by the 

 wind. Nat. Ord. Rhamnacece. 



A genus of stove-house, climbing shrubs, 

 found all over the tropics. V. madraspatana 

 is the only species in cultivation, and is rarely 

 seen except in botanical collections. 



Ventilating. Or " Airing," as gardeners call 

 it, is an important operation in growing plants- 



