Ctje Ereasttry at ISotanji. 



1204 



genus of the whole familj , am. me only one 

 which possesses any economical value. The 

 fruit of several species is largely employed 

 by confectioners to flavour chocolates 

 creams and liqueurs, under the name by 

 which it is botanically known. The best 

 Vanilla is the produce of V. planifolia, a 

 native of Mexico, but several other South 

 American species are also used. About five 

 or six cwts. are annually imported into this 

 country. See Plate 14, fig b. [W. B. H.] 



VANILLA. The thin pod-like capsule 

 of Vanilla planifolia and other species, 



Vanilla pods. 



much used for flavouring purposes. — , 

 CHICA. The Panama name for the fruit 

 of a species of Sobralia. —, CUBA. Crito- 

 nia Dalea. 



VANILLOES. A sort of bastard Vanilla 

 obtained from Vanilla Pompona. 



VANTANEA. The name of a tree, na- 

 tive of Guiana, constituting a genus of 

 Tiliacece. The leaves are entire alternate, 

 and the flowers in terminal corymbs. 

 Calyx five-cleft ; petals Ave, inserted on a 

 very short disk; stamens numerous, in- 

 serted with the petals ; ovary surrounded 

 by a disk; style filiform. The fruit is un- 

 described. [M. T. MJ 



VANZEY. An Abyssinian name for Cor- 

 dia abyssinica. 



VAQUETTE. (Fr.) Arum maculatum. 



VARAGOO. The Tamil name for Millet, 

 Panicum miliaceum. 



VARAIRE. (Fr.) Veratrum. 



VARANA. An Indian name for the Gar- 

 lic Pear, Cratce-va Tapia. 



VARANGOO. An Indian name for Pas- 

 palum frumentaceum. 



VAREC. (Fr.) Fucus. 



VARECA. The name of a Cingalese 

 plant of which little is known, except of 

 the fruit, which is a six-sided one-celled 

 berry, placed upon a six-lobed disk, and 

 surmounted by a short spine. The genus 

 is referred to Passifloracece. [M. T. M.j 



VARIABILIS, VARIANS. Not being 

 constant in appearance. 



VARIEGATED. Having colour disposed 

 in various irregular spaces. 



VARIEGATIO. A diseased condition of 

 plants, inconsequence of which the leaves 

 become partially white, from a total sup- 

 pression or modification of the chlorophyll; 

 it is distinguished from chlorosis by its 

 being more or less permanent, and not 

 materially affecting health, much less end- 

 ing in destruction. It is indeed said that 

 planting in a rich soil and free exposure to 

 light will sometimes cause the variegation 

 to cease. In some cases, however, of this 

 kind chlorosis may be confounded with 

 variegation, and in others the affection 

 has been produced by external causes, as 

 in that of Meyen's beech, which had been 

 eaten down the first year by snails and 

 in the second by deer, and which then 

 for a season or two produced variegated 

 leaves, which, however, entirely disappear- 

 ed after two or three seasons. Individual 

 shoots, indeed, will often revert to the 

 original condition in variegated plants, and 

 these probably if propagated would remain 

 true. The cause of this disease is com- 

 pletely unknown. It may take place origi- 

 nally in a seedling, but more frequently it 

 occurs in some particular shoot of a tree, 

 from whence it is propagated by cuttings 

 or grafts. Occasionally variegated plants 

 have a tendency to revert to their original 

 condition, but this is not usually the case. 

 Variegated grafts sometimes affect the 

 stock, and, on the contrary, grafts may 

 contract the disease from the stock. Va- 

 riegated plants have also been obtained 

 by crossing, as in the vine. [M. J. B.] 



VARIETY. A term indicating a lower 

 grade of subdivision, next to the species ; 

 as the different sorts of pears or apples. 



VARIOLiE. Pustular shields, such as 

 are found in the genus Variolaria. 



VARIOLARIA. A spurious genus of 

 Fungi, arising from Porina pertusa, the 

 soridia being multiplied at the expense of 

 the fruit, and often to such an extent as to 

 obliterate the crust altogether. In very 

 old specimens the crust quite vanishes, 

 and the productions are then referred to 

 Lepraria. [M. J. B.] 



VARIUS. Liable to change— of colour. 



VARNISH-TREE, BLACK. Melanorrhcea 

 usitatissima. — , FALSE. Ailantus glan- 

 dulosa. —.JAPAN. Rhus vernicif era. — , 

 MARTABAN. Melanorrhcea usitatissima. 

 — , NEW GRENADA. Elceagia utilis. —, 

 SYLHET. Semecarpus Anacardium. 



VARRONIA. A genus of Boraginacem, 

 consisting of three species, two of which 

 are found in Tropical America, and one in 

 Africa. V. rotundifolia is one of the chief 

 features of the Peruvian deserts, and pro- 

 duces a fleshy fruit, which fattens poultry. 

 The Varronias are bushes or small trees, 

 with simple ovate or nearly orbicular 

 leaves, and terminal panicles bearing 



