Dia 
BERBERIS VULGARIS. 
Common Barberry, Pipperidge Bush. 
Synonyms.—Berberis dumetorum, Raii Syn, 465. Spina acida, or Oxyacantha, 
Ger. Em. 1325, 
Forrien Names.—Fr.: L’Epine vinette. Germ.: Sauerdorn. Jtal.: Crespino. 
Span.: Berberis. Dut.: Berberis. Russ.: Barbariss. 
Gen. Cxar.—Calyz inferior, of six spreading, concave, coloured, deciduous 
sepals; the three outer ones the smallest. Corolla of six roundish, egg- 
shaped, concave, spreading petals, opposite to the sepals, each with two 
oblong, more deeply coloured, probably nectariferous glands at the base 
(fig. 2). Filaments six, strap-shaped, flattened, blunt, opposite to the 
petals, but shorter, attached to the base of each. Anthers of two separate 
lobes, on the opposite edges of the summit of the filament, each opening 
by a valve from the bottom upwards. Germen superior, cylindrical, 
as long as the stamens. Style none. Stigma single, round, and flat, 
broader than the germen, acutely bordered, permanent. Berry ob- 
long, blunt, of one cell, pulpy, opening at the top. Seeds two or 
three, oblong, cylindrical, upright; attached by short stalks to the lower 
part of the cell. 
The calyx of six sepals, the inferior corolla of six petals, and the two or 
three-seeded berry, will distinguish this from other genera in the same 
class and order. 
Srrc. Coar.— Thorns three-cleft. Clusters pendulous. eaves inversely 
egg-shaped, oblong, with bristly serratures. Petals entire. 
History.—This is one of the medicinal plants of the ancient 
physicians, and, according to Gerarde, is described by Galen 
as Oxycantha, or Acuta spina, and differing from the Oxy- 
Fig. 1. A petal. 2. Ditto, showing the nectariferous glands. 3, Stamens, 
germen, and stigma. 4, Stigma and germen. 5. A single stamen. 
