150 BERBERIDACEAE 



Family 1 1 . BERBERIDA CEAE. P3+3+3+3, A3 + 3,Gi 



BERBERIS. Barberry. Spiny shrubs with spines usually in threes. Ls. 

 alternate or in clusters in spine axils. Fls. small, yellow, usually in nodding clusters 

 or racemes, sometimes solitary. Fruit a berry. 



{a) Deciduous barberries. Ls. usually obov. 

 Berry red 



B. aetnensis. 2. May. Branchlets erect, grooved. Ls. obov., |, bristle-toothed. 

 Fls. in short clusters. Berry red. Sicily. (Fig. 79 a.) 



B. aggregata. 6. July. Branchlets angled. Ls. obov., i, spine-toothed, 

 net-veined. Fls. in dense short clusters. Berry red, style persistent. 

 Himalaya. (Fig. 79 b.) 



Variety Prattii. Ls. 1 1, often entire. Berry coral-scarlet. 



B. aristata. 10. June-July. Branches shining reddish brown, slightly droop- 

 ing. Ls. obov., 3, leathery, entire or with a few- large teeth, green below. 

 Fls. in long hanging sprays. Berry red, spindle-shaped. Himalaya. 

 (Fig. 79 c.) 



B. brachypoda. 8. May. Branches angled, downy grey. Ls. obov., 3, strongly 

 veined below, green and downy on both sides. Fls. in spikes up to 2 long. 

 Berry blood-red. China. (Fig. 79 d.) 



B. chitria. 10. June, h E. Ls. obov., 3, sparsely toothed or entire, green 

 on both sides. Fls. \, pale yellow, in drooping panicles. Berry \, oblong, 

 dark red or purple. Himalaya. (Fig. 80 K.) 



B. concinna. 3. June. Branches furrowed. Ls. obov., i, glossy green above, 

 white below, spine-toothed. Fls. i, round, solitary. Berry f, oblong, red. 

 Himalaya. (Fig. 79 e.) 



B. diaphana. 6. May. Branches stout, grooved, yellowish. Ls. obov., i|, 

 blunt-ended, toothed or entire, glaucous and net-veined below. Fls. in 

 twos and threes on common stalk. Berry egg-shaped, red, with slight 

 bloom. China. (Fig. 79 g.) 



B. dictophylla. 6. May. Branches covered with white bloom when young. 

 Ls. obov., I, spine-tipped, entire or with a few spiny teeth on margin, 

 bright green and net-veined above, chalky white below. Fls. solitary or 

 in pairs. Berry egg-shaped, scarlet. China. (Fig. 79 f.) 



B. polyantha. 12. August. Ls. obov., i, blunt-ended, spine-toothed, dull 

 green above, glaucous below, net-veined on both sides. Fls. in long, much- 

 branched panicles. Berry oblong, salmon-red. China. (Fig. 79 h.) 



B. Sieboldii. 3. May. Ls. narrow obov., 2|, thin, margins crowded with fine 

 bristles. Fls. in short clusters. Berry round, bright red, glossy. West 

 China. (Fig. 79 j.) 



B. Thunbergii. 8. April. Much branched; branches strongly grooved, 

 yellowish or purplish red ; spines usually single. Ls. obov., i, very unequal, 

 entire, bright green turning red in autumn. Fls. inconspicuous, reddish 

 outside, solitary or in small clusters. Berry egg-shaped, bright red, 

 glossy. Japan. (Fig. 79 k.) 



Variety minor. Dwarf form with small Is. 



Variety pluriflora. Low-spreading shrub turning brilliant scarlet in 



autumn. 



B. Vernae. 10. April. Branches grooved, spines single at top. Ls. oblanc, 



