|
The V-moth (Semiothisa wauaria) is a moth of the family Geometridae with a wing span of between 25 and 30 mm found in Europe, Asia and North America flying from June to July in damp, shrubby woods and cultivated land.
 Research V-Moth
Vaccinium is a genus of mostly hardy shrubs belonging to the family Vacciniaceae. They bear globose berries which are often edible and of commercial value. Species include the bilberry and cranberry.
Research Vaccinium
Vaciniaceae is a family of trees and shrubs bearing flowers with gamopetalous, globose, or campanulate corollas, and followed by baccate fruits.
Research Vaciniaceae
In biology, a vacuole is a fluid-filled, membrane-bound cavity inside a cell. It may be a reservoir for fluids that the cell will secrete to the outside, or may be filled with excretory products or essential nutrients that the cell needs to store. In amoebae, vacuoles are the sites of digestion of engulfed food particles. Plant cells usually have a large central vacuole for storage.
Research Vacuole
Valerian is the Valeriana genus of plants of the family Valerianaceae having small fragrant flowers of white, purple or pink. The root was formerly used in medicine as a nerve sedative and antispasmodic. Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) is a perennial herb with a massive root system and a short rhizome, which bears angular, erect, furrowed, usually unbranched stems. It is native to Britain and Europe, where it grows on rough grassy and bushy places, often on damp soils.
Research Valerian
Valerianaceae is the Valerian family of plants. They are herbaceous plants and shrubs having simple or compound, opposite leaves, clusters of small flowers, and dry, indehiscent fruit.
Research Valerianaceae
Valgus is a genus of small beetle the family Scarabaeidae.
Research Valgus
Vallisneria is a genus of half-hardy, aquatic, submerged plants belonging to the family Hydrocharidaceae. There is only one species, eel grass, which is grown in aquariums.
Research Vallisneria
Vallota is a genus of South African bulbous plants belonging to the family Amaryllidaceae.
Research Vallota
The Vampire Bat (Phyllostomatidae) is a large family of about 150 species of bat distinguished by a well developed 'leaf' above the nose, or by skin folds or warts beneath the chin. The middle finger of the wing has three joints. Vampire Bats are confined to the tropical and sub-tropical regions of the world where they live in forest areas feeding on fruit and insects, although two species, Desmodus and Diphylla are blood sucking.
Research Vampire Bat
Vanessa is a genus of butterflies belonging to the family Nymphalidae, and including some handsome and conspicuous species. The club of the antennae is short and bold, and the eyes are extremely hairy.
Research Vanessa
Vanilla is a genus of climbing tropical orchids, which bear thick leaves, and spikes or racemes of large flowers, not usually of much beauty.
Research Vanilla
The Vapourer (Orgyia antiqua) is a moth of the family Lymantriidae found in forests and forest- steppes in the northern and temperate Palaearctic flying from June to October.
Research Vapourer
The Varied Coronet (Hadena compta) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 25 and 30 mm distributed through the temperate part of the Palaearctic to Japan. A single generation is produced flying from May to July.
Research Varied Coronet
Velella is a member of the order Siphonophora.
Research Velella
Velleius is a genus of rove beetles, Staphylinidae often found in hornets' nests.
Research Velleius
Vellozia is a genus of tropical woody-stem plants of the family Amaryllidaceae. They are mostly natives of South Africa and Brazil. The leaves grow in clusters at the tips of the branches and bear showy campanulate single flowers.
Research Vellozia
Velociraptor was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. A medium sized carnivore, Velociraptor was about 180 centimetres long and walked on its hind legs. The head was long and low, with a flat snout and about thirty pointed, curved teeth in the mouth. One toe of each foot was furnished with a scythe-like curved claw. The first remains of Velociraptor were discovered in the 1920's in the Gobi Desert, and in 1971 remains were found of a Velociraptor locked in combat with a Protoceratops. The remains show the Velociraptor holding its prey while slashing with its foot claw.
Research Velociraptor
The velvet scoter (Melanitta fusca) is a migrant duck, sometimes visiting Britain during winter. The velvet scoter is larger than the common scoter, about 55 centimetres long, the male having mainly black plumage with a white patch under the eye and a yellow patch on the bill. The female is brownish with pale patches at the base of the bill and on the cheek. Both sexes have a distinctive white patch on the wing.
Research Velvet Scoter
The vendace (Coregonus vandesius) is a fresh-water member of the salmon family, which is nearly related to the pollan, but is confined to Lochmaben in Scotland. It is 15 centimetres long, brownish in colour, with a red heart- shaped mark between the eyes and has a slightly protruding lower jaw.
Research Vendace
A ventricle is a chamber of the heart which despatches blood.
Research Ventricle
A venue is the collective noun for a group of vultures.
Research Venue
The Venus Fly-trap is a plant of the genus Dionoea. It is native to the sandy savannas of Carolina and Florida. The leaves have a dilated petiole and a slightly stalked 2-lobed lamina, with three short stiff bristles on each lobe. The bristles are remarkably irritable and when touched by a fly or other insect the lobes of the leaf suddenly close on the insect. The insect is then digested.
Research Venus Fly-trap
Veratrum is a genus of hardy herbaceous plants of the family Liliaceae. They bear terminal panicles of flowers, usually broad leaves and a thick poisonous rhizome.
Research Veratrum
Verbena is a genus of plants, mostly American, several species of which possess handsome and sweet-scented flowers.
Research Verbena
Verbenaceae is a family of herbs, shrubs or trees widely distributed over the warmer parts of the world.
Research Verbenaceae
In zoology, vermiform is a term meaning resembling a worm.
Research Vermiform
Vernonia is a genus of mostly tropical plants belonging to the family Compositae. They bear usually purple flower-heads, the flowers being all equal and five-cleft.
Research Vernonia
Vervain (Verbena officinalis) is a native British perennial herb, also found across Europe, of the genus Verbena. It is an erect, hairy perennial with slender, tough, four-angled stems bearing opposite, pinnately lobed, roughly diamond-shaped leaves, the upper leaves being smaller and less deeply lobed than the lower leaves. The flowers are carried in long, slender spikes at the branch tips. Vervain flowers are used in medicine for their astringent, diuretic, stomachic, tonic, diaphoretic, antispasmodic, vulnerary, mild sedative and hypnotic properties in treating stomach, liver and kidney disorders and also for treating nervous exhaustion and migraine.
Research Vervain
Vesicaria is a genus of herbaceous plants belonging to the family Cruciferae. They bear mostly large flowers, yellow or purple in colour.
Research Vesicaria
The Vesper sparrow or bay-winged bunting (Pooecetes gramineus) is a bird of the family Fringillidae. They have a conical bill; Long, dark tail with white outer feathers; White eye ring; Rusty lesser coverts (which are not always visible); The upper parts are brown with dark streaks; The under parts white with dark streaks. The vesper sparrow is found in open fields where it forages on the ground. The male bird can often be heard as he sings from a high perch (such as a tree or telephone wire).
Research Vesper Sparrow
Vespertilionidae is a family of bats characterized by an ear tragus and without a nose-leaf. The tail is comparatively long so that the interfemoral membrane can be used as a pouch.
Research Vespertilionidae
In botany and zoology, the term vespertine refers to animals and plants that appear, open, or are active in the evening.
Research Vespertine
Vespoidea is the Wasp super-family of insects of the sub-order Apocrita, order Hymenoptera. The members are conspicuous by their yellow and black colouring. The eyes are kidney-shaped, the wings longitudinally folded over the body. Males have thirteen segmented antennae, females twelve.
Research Vespoidea
The Viatka is an endangered species of Russian pony. They stand between 13 and 14 hands high, occur in chestnut roam, bay roam or dun colour and are a hardy pony with great stamina. They are gentle and good natured, willing and very easy to handle. The locals use them for riding, driving, pulling troikas and for light agricultural work.
Research Viatka
Viburnum is a genus of hardy shrubs belonging to the family Caprifoliaceae. They bear corymbs or panicles of white or pink flowers.
Research Viburnum
Vicia is a genus of leguminous plants extensively cultivated as food for cattle and horses.
Research Vicia
Victoria is a genus of tropical American aquatic plants belonging to the family Nymphaeaceae. There is one species, the beautiful Queen Victoria water lily, water platter or royal water lilly (Victoria regia). It is a remarkable plant bearing oval or orbicular leaves often 160 centimetres in diameter. The flowers are very large, the sepals being brownish in colour, whilst the outer petals are white and spreading, and the inner petals are rose-coloured and filamentous. The flowers are followed by large, green, prickly fleshy berries, containing numerous dark-coloured seeds.
Research Victoria
The vicuna is a species of wild llama, a ruminant mammal of the camel family found in the Andes. Unlike the other wild species, the huanaco, the face is fawn-coloured.
Research Vicuna
The Viennese Emperor or Greater Emperor (Saturnia pyri) is a moth of the family Saturniidae with a wing span of between 100 and 130 mm, being the largest European moth. The moths live around the Mediterranean region of Europe, Africa and Asia. A single generation is produced that flies from April to June, only at night.
Research Viennese Emperor
The Vietnamese Potbelly pig is a dwarf pig breed which was developed in the 1960's from the I breed of Vietnam. They were originally brought into Sweden and Canada and have since moved into a number of countries where they are often kept as pets.
Research Vietnamese Potbelly Pig
Villarsia are a genus of Australian and South African herbaceous marsh plants, belonging to the family Gentianaceae. They bear white or yellow flowers arranged in cymes.
Research Villarsia
Vinca is a genus of herbaceous and shrubby plants belonging to the family Apocynaceae. They generally bear large, salver-shaped, axillary, solitary flowers, often of much beauty.
Research Vinca
Vincenzellus is a genus of beetle of the family Pythidae.
Research Vincenzellus
The vine (Vitis vinifera) is a shrub of the family Ampelidae. This is the plant from which grapes are obtained.
Research Vine
The Vine Moth (Eupoeciliaambiguella) is a moth of the family Cochylidae with a wing span of between 14 and 16 mm found in vineyards across the Palaearctic region. Two generations are produced, the first flying in May and the second from July to August.
Research Vine Moth
Vine's Rustic (Hoplodrina ambigua) is a moth of the family Noctuidae with a wing span of between 28 and 30 mm found in treeless biotopes in Europe and central Asia. Two generations appear, flying from May to July and August to September.
Research Vine's Rustic
Viola is a genus of perennial herbaceous plants of the family Viilaceae. Most of the species are dwarf plants.
Research Viola
Violaceae is a family of herbs and shrubs, widely distributed over the temperate and tropical regions.
Research Violaceae
Violet cabbage (Moricandia arvensis) is a short-lived perennial of the family Cruciferae with branched stems and smooth, rounded, somewhat fleshy, bluish-green leaves which clasp the stem. The plant bears rather large, showy, violet-purple flowers carried near the stem tips. The fruits are slender, flattened, four-angled siliquae.
Research Violet Cabbage
The Violet Fritillary (Clossiana dia) is a widely distributed butterfly of the brush-footed butterflies family (Nymphalidae) found throughout temperate Europe and Asia as far as western China. With a wing span of about 30 mm it is one of the smallest fritillaries. Two or three generations occur each year, commencing in April, the butterflies flying almost all year round. The caterpillars, which hibernate, feed on violets and blackberries.
Research Violet Fritillary
The Violet Ground Beetle (Carabus violaceus) is a large and flightless beetle of the family Carabidae found throughout Britain, Europe and Asia usually in wooded country, but also in gardens. It grows to between 22 and 35 mm in length.
Research Violet Ground Beetle
Viper's Bugloss (Echium vulgare) is a native British plant of the family Boraginaceae. It is found growing on walls, in gravel pits and similar places. It is a bristly plant growing to one meter in height; has narrow prickly leaves, and bears numerous short curved spikes of blue flowers in summer.
Research Viper's Bugloss
Viperidae is the 'typical vipers' family of reptiles of the sub-order serpentes (Snakes). The family comprises three sub-families, eleven genera and about 49 species native to Europe, Asia and Africa living in temperate and tropical climates.
Research Viperidae
Viperinae is the 'True Vipers' sub-family of reptiles of the family Viperidae, sub-order Serpentes (Snakes). The sub-family is comprised of nine genera and some 46 species found in Europe, Africa and Asia.
Research Viperinae
The virginia creeper (Vitis quinquefolia) is a climbing plant of the family Vitaceae, akin to the vine, with large lobbed leaves which acquire a beautiful red colour in the autumn, tendrils by which it climbs and which give off short branches ending in adhesive suckers for clinging to walls or trees, and clusters of green flowers like those of the vine. It is native to North America and was introduced into Britain.
Research Virginia Creeper
The Virginia Deer (Cariacus virginianus) is a North American species of deer about the size of a fallow-deer, but with large antlers curving forwards over the face. The coat is brown in winter, and paler with white spots in summer. The underside of the tail is white from whence it derives its American name the white-tailed deer.
Research Virginia Deer
The Virginia Quail or Bob-white (Ortyx virginianus) is a bird of the subfamily Odontophorinae. It is found in the eastern United States and receives its name from the note of the male. It is partridge-like in its habits.
Research Virginia Quail
Virginian Stock (Malcomia maritima) is a hardy annual European plant of the family Cruciferae. It bears racemes of white, lilac or rose-coloured flowers, with a sweet fragrance.
Research Virginian Stock
The Viscacha or Pampas Hare (Lagostomus trichodactylus) is a South American rodent of the family Chinchillidae. It is a gregarious burrow-dweller with five toes on the front feet and three on the hind.
Research Viscacha
The visceral skeleton is the bones comprising the jaws and their allied structures.
Research Visceral skeleton
Viscum is a genus of parasitic shrubs belonging to the family Loranthacea. They grow on the branches of trees and live at their expense. They bear fascicles of flowers, dioecious or monoecious.
Research Viscum
Visnea is a genus of evergreen trees of the family Ternstromiaceae. The only species is a native of the Canary Islands. It bears small flowers, which are succeeded by indehiscent berries.
Research Visnea
Vitex is a genus of trees and shrubs of the family Verbenaceae. They bear cymes of white, blue or yellow flowers, the corollas being more or less bilabiate.
Research Vitex
Vitis is a genus of mostly climbing shrubs belonging to the family Ampelidaceae. They bear small flowers followed by ovoid or globose berries.
Research Vitis
Vitrina is a genus of pulmonate gastropods, in which the shell is thin, depressed and small, so that it is incapable of lodging the whole of the animal's body.
Research Vitrina
In zoology, viviparous refers to creatures which produce young which have developed inside the body of the parent.
Research Viviparous
The Vladimir Heavy Draft is a Russian breed of heavy horse first recognised officially as a breed in 1946 having been developed during the 19th century. The
Vladimir Heavy Draft stands 16 hands high and is mostly bay in colour.
Research Vladimir Heavy Draft
The vole (Arvicola) is a large genus of rodents of the Cricetidae family. They may be distinguished from rats and mice by the fact that the tail is either short, or only moderately long, the body is stouter, the muzzle more obtuse, the limbs shorter, the eyes and ears smaller, and by the structure of the teeth.
Research Vole
Volery is the collective noun for a group of birds.
Research Volery
In botany, a volva is a cup-shaped structure that sheathes the base of the stalk of certain mushrooms.
Research Volva
Volvox is a genus of flagellate Protozoa, closely related to the simplest plants. They form minute globular colonies composed of sometimes as many as 22,000 individuals in fresh water.
Research Volvox
Vorticella is a member of the order Peritricha.
Research Vorticella
Vulcanodon was a dinosaur of the Cretaceous period. Only partial remains of Vulcanodon have been found, and these exclude a neck or head and so little is known of it. It is thought to have been a large, bulky dinosaur about six and a half meters long that walked on all fours and probably had a long neck and small head.
Research Vulcanodon
Vulture is the popular name for any of various Old World birds of prey of the family Accipitridae which for the most part feed on carrion (already dead animals), and generally have a bald head and neck; or several similar species of New World birds of prey of the family Cathartidae. Vultures are generally gregarious, living in groups known as venues, and are agile in flight but clumsy and vulnerable when feeding on the ground.
Research Vulture
The Vulturidae are the vulture family of the Accipitres order of birds. They are characterised by a somewhat lengthened beak with a nearly straight upper mandible, curved at the point only. The head and neck are naked to a greater or lesser degree or covered only in a thin down. The talons are comparatively weak and the family feeds exclusively on the flesh of already dead animals.
Research Vulturidae
|
Abbreviations
Nature
