46 A COMPENDIUM OF 
tion of Asia, and grows to the height of 3 to6% 
feet (1 to 2 meters), with spines 3-parted, bear- 
ing yellow flowers in racemes; having 6 sta- 
mens, 6 petals, and one pistil; the leaves are 
3-parted, obovate or spatulate; fruit red in ae 
and very acid. The root is the part used, an 
as found in commerce is very irregular and 
much branched, about 2 inches (5 centimeters) 
thick ; externally it is brown, hard, and tough, 
with a thin bark; internally the wood is of a 
light-yellow color, and of bitter taste. Bar- 
Try contains starch, tannin, and the alkaloid 
berberina or berberine, its active principle. This 
principle exists, however, ina great many plants. 
The medical properties of barberry are tonic and 
stomachic, indosesof 3ss 3i(2to4 grams). It 
isno longer officinal, butis still kept in the stores 
for the use of the veterinary surgeons, in the 
form of a brownish-yellow powder, and is highly 
extolled by them as an aromatic tonic in horse 
powders. The origin of the name is uncertain. 
Chondodendron Tomentosum, Pareira 
tava, Wildvine.—Natural order Menisper- 
macez, This is a cl 
monodelphos (united) ; 
Solitary ovary, with a 
anthers 2 celled, stamens 
female flowers have a 
