Iso, 15, 



M 



83 



nodding or pendulous ; they are yellow, on long pe- 

 dicels, and rather small, 'i he petals are oblong ob- 

 tuse, and have each two glands and a stamen at the 

 base. The berries hang in loose bunches, they are 

 oblong and i ed, smaller and less juicy than in the com- 

 mon garden Barberry of Europe. 



HISTORY — Berheris is an ancient name, it is the 

 type of the natural order of Berberides. In the Lin- 

 nean system it is placed in Hexakdria vionogynia. 

 This species was considered a variety of the B. vuU 

 garis of Europe, till Pursh separated it, and it hardly 

 differs from it. It blossoms in April and May, and 

 ripens the berries in June j but they are sometimes 



abortive. 



The stamina of the flowers are irritable, and bend 

 with elasticity towards the pistil. It is supposed that 

 the vicinity of this shfub is injurious to wheat, and 

 this has been noticed as one of the ir^stances of vege- 

 table antipathy or incompatible vicinity. It is liable 

 to the rust, sterility, and many other diseases. 



Locality — From Canada to Virginia, in moun- 

 tains, hills, among rocks, &:c. Common in New- 

 England in rocky fields : rare in the West and in 



rich soils. 



Qualities — The whole shrub (even the root) is 



acid 5 in the berries this acid becomes very pleasant, 

 and is probably the tartaric, but mixed with some as- 

 tringency ; the bark is yellow and bitter. 



PROPERTIES— Antiseptic, acid, subasfring...* 

 refrigerant, &c. The berries, leaves, bark and roots, 



may be used in putrid fevers, dysentery, bilious di- 



3 



