Optimara Violet Glossary: V

V: Symbol for vanadium, a trace element.

Van Gogh: Optimara variety belonging to the Artist's Palette series. Named for the Dutch impressionist painter, Vincent van Gogh. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are purple and white. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1995. (AVSA Reg. No. 8338) More information.

Vanadium: (V) Trace element which, though not fully established, may have a beneficial effect on African Violets.

Vanessa: Rhapsodie variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, semi-double, pink flowers and dark green leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6621) More information.

Variegated: Leaf type. An African Violet leaf which exhibits two distinct colors (i.e., green and white) or two distinct tones of the same color (i.e., green and light green). Types of variegated leaves include champion, mosaic, Nancy Reagan and Tommie Lou.

Variegation: The characteristic of having variegated leaves.

Variety: Sub-classification of African Violet species based on an identical combination of characteristics such as bloom type, color and leaf shape. Currently, there are thousands of African Violet varieties, and each one is identified by a name, i.e., Optimara Van Gogh. While some variation existed in the original species of African Violet, virtually all known varieties, today, are cultivated varieties (see Cultivar). Characteristics which contribute to the distinction between varieties include bloom type, bloom color, bloom pattern, florescence, growth habit, size, leaf color, leaf shape and leaf type.

Vascular Bundle: Also called vascular tissue. Collectively, the phloem and xylem. In leaves, the vascular bundles are recognized as the veins. In stems, the vascular bundles surround the pith.

Vascular Tissue: See Vascular Bundle.

Vector: Carrier of a virus. For African Violets, potential vectors include Aphids, Mealy Bugs, Mites, Nematodes, Scale, Thrips and Whiteflies.

Velutina: See Saintpaulia velutina.

Vermeer: Optimara variety, part of the Artist's Palette series. Named for the 17th century Dutch painter, Jan Vermeer. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, bi-color flowers. Flowers are pink and purple. Leaves are medium green. Introduced 1996. More information.

Vermiculite: A light, porous mineral mined from mica and heated to make it expand. Vermiculite is sometimes added to potting soil to help buffer changes in pH and increase aeration.

Vermont: Optimara variety. Large, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, blue flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1987. (AVSA Reg. No. 6604) More information.

Veronika: Rhapsodie variety. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Introduced 1974. More information.

Victorian Charm: Optimara series featuring standard African Violets (4-inch pot size) with variegated leaves.

Vienna: Optimara variety belonging to the World Traveler series. Extra large, standard African Violet (6-inch pot size) with single, dark blue flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1991. (AVSA Reg. No. 7923) More information.

Viking: Early African Violet cultivar from which many of today's varieties have been developed. One of the first 10 commercial hybrids introduced in 1927, all of which had blue flowers. More information.

Vine Weevils: See Black Vine Weevils.

Violanin: See Anthrocyanin.

Violet: See African Violet.

Violet Beetle: more information

Violet Food: Any fertilizer which has been formulated especially for African Violets. For standard African Violets, a Violet Food should have approximately equal percentages of the primary elements, NPK, i.e., 14-12-14. Miniatures require a Violet Food with a relatively higher percentage of phosphorus, i.e., 7-9-5. All Violet Foods should be fully-dissolving and should not contain urea nitrogen, since urea can cause Root Burn.

Violet Sapphire: Optimara super miniature variety. See Little Violet Sapphire.

Violets-Do-Windows: Trademark for a popular Optimara product. An Optimara super miniature African Violet (see Little Jewel) with a self-watering MiniWell which has been specially equipped with a durable-hold suction cup. Violets-Do-Windows was conceived as a way to care for African Violets even in the absence of a window ledge. With its suction cup, Violets-Do-Windows can adhere directly to a window or any smooth, flat surface, i.e., a file cabinet.

Violetta: Rhapsodie variety. Standard African Violet (4-inch pot size). Introduced 1972. More information.

Virginia: Optimara variety. Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with frilled, pink flowers and medium green leaves. Introduced 1977. Improved 1990. (AVSA Reg. No. 3160 and 7358) More information.

Virgo: Optimara variety. Small, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, light pink flowers and medium green, girl-type leaves. Introduced 1988. (AVSA Reg. No. 6974) More information.

Virus: A pathogen passed to African Violets by poor cultural practices or by insects such as Aphids, Mealy Bugs and Scale. The most common viruses to attack African Violets are mosaic and stunt. All are untreatable. More information.

Vroni: Holtkamp variety (Europe). Medium, standard African Violet (4-inch pot size) with single, blue flowers and dark green leaves. Available in the U.S. as Wisconsin.

Vydate: A common nematicide used by commercial growers. On African Violets, it is used to control Leaf Nematodes, Root Nematodes and Strawberry Nematodes. Vydate is classified for restricted Use by the EPA, i.e., it cannot be used without a pesticide license.

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