How to remove a taxonomy vocabulary via database query
From the world of weird solutions that work...


I tried using a module and 'drush entup' ... didn't work 
I tried creating a module to use 'hook_update_N' to delete it ... didn't work
I tried using hook_update_N to Create it, so I could then delete it
... didn't work.


On a whim, I went to the admin page, listing taxonomies. I dragged the 'ghost' taxonomy to rearrange the list. Then I saved. Suddenly, all the options to edit it had returned. I was finally able to delete the taxonomy using the usual dropdown field.