TAB: 8414. 
BERBERIS Wrtrsonar. 
wei 
China. 
BERBERIDACEAE. Tribe BERBEREAE. 
Berseris, Linn.; Benth. et Hook. J. Gen. Plant. vol. i. p. 48. 
Berberis Wilsonae, Hemsi. in Kew Bull. 1906, p. 151; H. Spooner in Gard. 
Chron. 1907, vol. xlii. p. 872; Veitch in Cat. Nov. 1907; species adspectu 
B. Thunbergii similis, differt spinis infra foliorum fasciculos 3, foliis 
crassissimis eximie reticulatis flores excedentibus et floribus numerosis 
minoribus in racemos congestos dispositis. 
Fruier, tarde deciduus vel fere sempervirens, ad 1 m. altus, patulus; ramuli 
graciles, angulati, minute brunneo-pubescentes. Folia fasciculata oblanceo- 
lata vel anguste obovata, sessilia, apice rotundata mucronata vel subacuta, 
casu 3-partita, basi sensim attenuata, 0°6-2°5 em. longa, 2-6 mm. lata, 
pallide viridia, supra opaca subtus glauca, conspicue reticulata; fasciculi 
in axillis spinarum 3-fureatarum dispositi; spinarum rami aciculati 1-2 cm. 
longi. Flores aureo-lutei, 1 em. diametro, in fasciculos vel umbellas breve 
pedunculatas dispositi. Sepala 6, obovato-orbicularia, 2-8 mm. longa. 
Peala 6, obovata, Sepalis paulo breviora. Stamina petalis breviora. 
fructus globosus, 6 mm. diametro, pallide puniceus.—W. J. BEAN. 
Among the many new forms belonging to the genus 
Berberis which recent exploration in China has disclosed, 
the subject of our plate is one of the most distinct and 
attractive. It is a native of Central and Western China, 
and was first met with by Mr. E. H. Wilson when collecting 
on behalf of Messrs. J. Veitch & Sons in the neighbour- 
hood of Tatien-lu in 1903. The material for our figure 
las been derived from a plant presented to the Kew 
collection by Messrs. Veitch in 1907. But while very 
different from any of the species formerly known in 
gardens, B. Wilsonae appears to be one of aseries of variable 
forms from the same general region rather than an isolated 
and well differentiated species. This conclusion is the 
result of an examination of a number of Chinese 
Barberies, palpably of the same type of B. Wilsonae, 
though noticeably different in their details, recently intro- 
duced to cultivation at Kew, Coombe Wood and elsewhere, 
Perhaps the most nearly allied of these forms is one which 
has been described as ZB. parvifolia, Sprague. Another 
form almost if not quite identical with B. Wilsonae was 
_ Janvary, 1912. 
