Bt'i'bcris vidiraris. 



THE COMMON BERBERRY. 



Synonymes. 



Berberis vulgaris, 



Epine vinette, 



Gemcine Berberitze, 



Berberi ordinario, Spino vinetto, 



Espina de majuelas, 



Berberry, Barberry, Pipperidge-Bush, 



( LiNN^us, Species Plantaram. 

 I De Candolle, Prodromus. 



(Don, Miller's Dictionary. 

 Loudon, Arboretum Ikitannicum. 

 ToRREY AND Gray, Flora ol' North America, 

 France. 

 Germany. 

 Italy. 

 Spain. 

 Britain and Anglo- AjMerica. 



Engrariiigs. Willdenow, BerlinischeBaumzucht, pi. 39; Loudon, Encyclopaedia of Plants, figure 4922; and the figures below 



Specific Characters. Spines 3-parted. Leaves somewhat obovate, ciliately serrated. Racemes many -flow 

 ejred, pendulous. Petals entire. Don, Miller^ Diet. 



Description. 



HE Common Berberry, in its wild 



state, is seldom found higher than 



six to ten feet, but when cul- 

 "^"^ tivated it may be grown to nearly 

 thirty feet in height. The stems are upright, and 

 much branched towards the top ; smooth, slightly 

 grooved, and covered with a whitish, or ash-coloured 

 bark, which is of a bright yellow v/ithin. The main 

 stem soon becomes so surrounded by side-suckers, as 

 to be concealed by them ; so that, even when the 

 height of the plant is that of a tree, its character is 

 still that of a bush. The blossoms are yellow, and, 

 in general, are abundant, and produce a fine appear- 

 ance in April, May, and June ; their odour is offensive 

 when near, but not disagreeable at a short distance. 

 The fruit is oblong-oval, which at first is green, and, 

 when ripe, is red, Mdiite, yellow, purple, or black, 

 according to the variety ; and it is so acid that birds 

 seldom touch it. 



Varieties. These are numerous. Those recognized by Messrs. De Candoll* 

 and Don, are as follows: 



1. B. V. ALBA. Fruit white. 



2. B. V. vioLACEA. Fruit violet-coloured. 



3. B. V. PURPUREA. Fruit purple. 



4. B. V. NIGRA. Fruit black ; leaves oblong ; ciliately serrated ; serratures few. 



5. B. V. DULcis. Fruit red, less acid than the common variety; leaves of a 

 bright, shining green. Native of Austria. 



6. B. V. ASPERMA. Fruit destitute of seeds, in old plants. It is said by Du 

 Hamel, that this variety produces the best fruit for preserving; and it is from ii 

 that the delicious confitures d' epine vinette, for which Rouen is so celebrated 

 are made. 



Geography and History. The berberry is found wild in most parts of Europe 

 and in many parts of Asia and America. In the warmer parts of the two I'lst 



