16 



BERBERIS pallida. 

 Pale Ash-leaved Berberry, 



HEXANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 

 Nat. Ord. BERBERACEiE. 



BERBERIS. Supra, vol. 17. fol. 1425. 



B. pallida (§ Mahonia) ; foliis 11-13 ovatis v. ovato-lanceolatis undulatis 

 spiuoso-dentatis basi rotundato-cuneato, inferioribus a caule parum dis- 

 tantibus, racemis laxis folio longioribus, filamentis minute bidentatis. 

 Bentham. Plant. Hartweg. p. 34. no. 268. 



To the pinnated, or ash-leaved, Berberries, formerly mis- 

 called Mahonias, Mr. Hartweg has been able to add seven new 

 Mexican species, among which is the plant now represented. 



In its native country it forms an evergreen shrub from 

 five to six feet high, and is found but sparingly near Cardonal 

 and Zimapan, on mountains thinly covered with Pinus 

 Llaveana. Mr. Hartweg also met with it near the hot springs 

 of Atotonilco El Grande, but nowhere in any quantity. That 

 gentleman informs us that it is easily distinguished by its dry 

 hard leaves, and pale yellow flowers ; and that the wood is 

 also of a lighter colour than in any other species. In our 

 gardens its appearance is vastly improved, and it will pro- 

 bably prove as handsome as others. 



It grows freely when potted in a mixture of sandy loam 

 and leaf-mould, to which is added a small portion of rough 

 bone-dust. 



Being at present extremely rare, it has not been tried in 

 the open border ; but the appearance of the plant leads us to 

 suppose that it may be at least as hardy as B. fascicularis. 

 Up to the present time it has been kept in a cold pit, in the 

 garden of the Horticultural Society, where our drawing was 

 made in May, 1843. 



