30 



retic, diuretic, and resolvent. Ed. P. J. 12. 417. The volatile oil obtained 

 from some species of Laurus found in vast forests between the Oronoko and 

 the Parime, is produced in great abundance by merely making an incision into 

 the bark with an axe as deep as the liber. It gushes out in such quantity, 

 that several quarts may be obtained by a single incision. It has the reputation 

 of being a powerful discutient. For further information, see Brewster 's Jour- 

 nal 1. 134. In addition to these qualities, there is present in some species an 

 acrid, red, or violet juice, like that found in Myristiceae ; it is particularly 

 abundant in L. parvifolia, globosa, fcetens, and caustica. 



Examples. Laurus, Cinnamomum, Tetranthus, Cassytha. 



XXII. BERBERIDE^E. The Berberry Tribe. 



Behberide2e. Vent. Tabl. 3. 83. (1799) ; Dec. Syst. 2. 1. (1821); Prodr. 1. 105. (1824); Lindl. 



Synops. 14. (1829.) 



Diagnosis. Polypetalous dicotyledons, with hypogynous stamens equal 

 in number to the petals and opposite them, anthers opening by recurved valves, 

 and a single simple carpellum. 



Anomalies. 



Essential Character. — Sepals 3-4-6, deciduous, in a double row, surrounded externally 

 by petaloid scales. Petals hypogynous, either equal to the sepals in number, and opposite to 

 them, or twice as many, generally with an appendage at the base in the inside. Stamens 

 equal in number to the petals, and opposite to them ; anthers generally with two separated 

 cells, opening elastically with a valve from the bottom to the top. Ovarium solitary, 1-cellcd ; 

 style rather lateral ; stigma orbicular. Fruit berried or capsular. Seeds attached to the 

 bottom of the cell on one side, 1, 2, or 3 ; albumen between fleshy and corneous ; embryo 

 straight in the axis; cotyledons flat. — Shrubs or herbaceous perennial plants, for the most part 

 smooth. Leaves alternate, compound, without stipulce. 



Affinities. Botanists appear of one opinion in considering Menispermeae 

 the nearest order to this, agreeing in having the stamens opposite the petals, 

 the floral envelopes regularly imbricated, 3 or 4 in each row, never 5, the fruit 

 usually baccate, and fleshy albumen. These, however, differ in their habit, 

 the separation of the sexes in distinct flowers, and the presence of several dis- 

 tinct carpella, while in Berberidere there is never more than one, which is per- 

 fectly simple, as is demonstrated by the position of the placentae, the single 

 style, &c. With Podophyllea? they are connected through Leontice and 

 Diphylleia, which have a near relation to Jeffersonia and Podophyllum itself. 

 In the singular structure of their anthers there is a striking analogy with Lau- 

 rinere, Atherospermea3, and Hamameliderc, orders not otherwise akin to Ber- 

 beridese. Leontice thalictroides offers one of the few instances of seeds being 

 absolutely naked, that is to say, not covered by any integument originating in 

 the pericarpium. In this plant the ovarium is ruptured in an early state by 

 the expansion of the ovulum, which, having been impregnated, continues to 

 grow, and ultimately arrives at maturity, although deprived of its pericarpial 

 covering. The spines of the common Berberry are a curious state of leaf, in 

 which the parenchyma is displaced, and the ribs have become indurated. 

 Thoy, as well as all the simple leaves of ordinary appearance, are articulated 

 with the petiole, and are therefore compound leaves reduced to a single foliole ; 

 whence the supposed genus Mahonia does not differ essentially from Berberis 

 in foliage any more than in fructification. Berberidcaa are related to Anona- 

 ceo3 through the genus Bocagea ; their ovarium is generally like that of Ano- 

 nacea;. Aug. St. llilaire remarks, that the opposition of the stamens to the 

 petals, and the erect ovules, place them in alliance with Vitcs. Fl. Braz. 1.. 



