602 
VACCINIUM 
mechanism, except that the ovary is inferior. They are largely visited 
by bumble-bees. The fleshy fruit is edible (used for jams, &c.) and 
is much distributed by birds. That of the N. Am. sp. V \ pennsylva - 
nicum Lam. is called blue huckleberry. 
Vahea Lam. = Landolphia Beauv. 
Vahlia Thunb. Saxifragaceae (i). 4 sp. Afr., As., trop. and subtrop. 
The firs, are in pairs (cymes) ; ovary inferior. 
Vaillantia Tourn. ex Linn. Rubiaceae (11. 21). 2 sp. Medit. 
Valeriana Tourn. ex Linn. Valerianaceae. 144 sp. Eur., As., Afr., 
Am. V. officinalis L. and V. dioica L. in Brit, (valerian). The firs, 
are protandrous. The calyx forms a pappus upon the fruit. The 
root of V. edulis Nutt. (N.W. Am.) is edible when cooked. 
Valerianaceae. Dicotyledons (Sympet. Aggregatae). 8 gen. with 215 
sp. Eur., As., Afr., Am. Herbs with exstip. leaves and dichasial 
branching. Firs, in cymose panicles &c., £ or unisexual, asymmetric, 
usually 5-merous. Calyx superior, little developed at the time of 
flowering, afterwards often forming a pappus as in Compositae. 
Corolla (5), often spurred at the base. Sta. 1 — 4, epipetalous, alt. 
with petals ; anthers introrse. G (3) ; only 1 loc. is fertile, and con- 
tains 1 pendulous anatropous ovule. Achene. Seed exalbuminous. 
Chief genera : Valerianella, Valeriana, Centranthus. Placed in 
Asterales by Benth.- Hooker, in Rubiales by Warming. 
Valerianella Tourn. ex Hall. (incl. Plectritis DC.) Valerianaceae. 51 sp. 
N. temp, and S. Am. ; 4 in Brit, (corn-salad or lamb’s lettuce). The 
seed-dispersal mechanisms show considerable variety. In V. Auricula 
DC. the sterile loculi of the fruit are inflated, in V. vesicaria Moench 
the calyx is inflated, in V. discoidea Loisel. it forms a parachute, 
whilst in V. hamata DC., V. echinata DC., and others it is provided 
with hooks. 
Vallisneria Mich, ex Linn. Hydrocharitaceae. 2 sp. trop. and sub- 
trop. V. spiralis L. in Eur. is a dioecious submerged water-plant 
with ribbon leaves (p. 171). The $ firs, are borne in dense spikes 
enclosed in spathes ; when ready to open the firs, break off and float 
up to the surface, where they open. The ? flr. is solitary on a very 
long stalk, which brings it to the surface of the water. It has a 
green perianth, an inferior ovary and 3 large stigmas. Pollination 
occurs on the surface of the water (cf. Elodea) ; and after it the 
stalk curls up into a close spiral, dragging the young fruit to the 
bottom of the pond to ripen. Vegetative propagation is effected by 
means of runners, rooting at the ends. 
Vancouveria C. Morr. et Dene. Berberidaceae. 2 sp. N.W. Am. 
United to Epimedium in Nat. Pfl. 
Vanda Jones. Orchidaceae (31). 20 sp. Indo-mal. Epiphytes with 
fleshy leaves, sometimes cylindrical. 
Vandellia Linn. ( Lindernia All.) Scrophulariaceae (11. 8). 26 sp. 
trop. and subtrop. 
