440 CONTRIBUTIONS ¥WROM THE NATIONAL HERBARIUM. 
307. * MAHONTA.+ 
Calir 6-leaved, unequal. Petals 6. Nectariferous glands none. Filaments 
irritable, each filiformly bidentate; anthers (as in Berberis) growing to the 
filaments ; cells opening by so many vertical elastic valves. Berry many-seeded. 
SPECIES. 1. M. Aquifolium. * * * Flowers sweet-scented, coming out 
in May (in Mr. McMahon’s greenhouse). Cultivated for several years by 
Mr. McMahon from seeds collected in the Rocky Mountains by the late Gov- 
ernor Lewis. 
* In memory of the late Mr. Bernard McMahon, whose ardent attachment 
to Botany, and successful introduction of useful and ornamental horticulture 
into the United States, lays claim to public esteem. 
After the plant grown by American nurserymen was introduced 
into England, Lindley described and illustrated it as a new species, 
Berberis repens.” Lindley, who apparently overlooked Nuttall’s ref- 
erence, comments as follows: 
A native of north-western part of North America, where it was originally 
found by the party accompanying Captain Lewis and Clarke in their expedi- 
tion across the continent of America. 
From seeds procured on that occasion plants were raised in America, which 
. have lately been sold into Europe at the rate of twenty-five dollars each. One 
of these now growing in the Garden of the Horticultural Society afforded our 
figure and the opportunity of examining the species; it had been purchased of 
Mr. Michael Floy, Nurseryman at New York, under the name of Berberis 
aquifolium. 
It appears, however, from the researches of Mr. Douglas, that this is not 
the true Berberis aquifolium. That species was described by Pursh, in part 
from an inspection of specimens in the collection of Captain Lewis, but chiefly 
from the Banksian Herbarium, in which it had been placed by Mr. Menzies, 
who discovered it on the northwest coast of America. From this last source 
the drawing in the Flora Americae Septentrionalis was also taken. It is prob- 
able that the specimens in Captain Lewis’s Herbarium were of the plant now 
under cqnsideration ; but it is also certain that those of Mr. Menzies belong to 
a very distinct species. Hence it seems that Pursh confounded two plants 
under the same name. That he intended to call Captain Lewis’s plant B. aqui- 
foliuwm, there can be no doubt; but it is equally certain, that in consequence 
of his having figured Mr. Menzies’ species, the world now applies the name 
to the latter. This being the case, it has become necessary to distinguish the 
former by a new name, which has been suggested by its singular property of 
creeping at the root; a habit peculiar to this species among Berberries.” 
Lindley’s statements have been the prime cause of much of the 
confusion that has since followed. His statements are certainly 
unfortunate and probably unwarranted, since it would appear that 
he had not seen or had not carefully examined the Lewis specimens. 
This would seem to be implied in the words “ It is probable that the 
specimens in Capt. Lewis’s Herbarium were of the plant under con- 
sideration,” that is, Berberis repens. Nor could he have asserted 
that Pursh’s plate was drawn from Menzies’ specimens in the Bank- 
"Bot. Reg. 14: pl. 1176. 1828. 
538700—21 2 
