CHAP. I.] BERBERIDE^. 249 



petals serve as a kind of cradle to the stamens, 

 as shown at b. There are six stamens, which 

 have broad filaments ; and instead of anthers 

 the filaments are widened at the tip, and each 

 contains two cases for the pollen (c) ; these cases 

 are each furnished with a valve-like lid (cZ), which 

 opens and curls back when the pollen is ripe. 

 The pistil (e) is pitcher-shaped, with a very 

 thick style, and a flat stigma. It stands erect, 

 while the stamens are spread out so as to be a 

 long way from it, but they are so irritable that 

 the shghtest touch makes them spring forward 

 and discharge their pollen on the stigma, after- 

 wards falling back into their former places. 

 The flowers are yellow, and they are produced 

 in long drooping racemes ; and they are suc- 

 ceeded by red oblong berries (y), each of which 

 contains two seeds (y). The receptacle, with 

 the stamens growing out of it from beneath the 

 pistil, is shown at i. The common Berberries 

 are all deciduous shrubs, with simple leaves, 

 which are produced in tufts, as shown in fig, 

 108, each leaf being dehcately fringed with hair- 

 like teeth. Each tuft of leaves has two or 

 three sharply-pointed stipules, which are easily 

 distinguished from the leaves, by their margins 

 being without teeth ; and below these are three 

 spines, which, when young, are soft and look 

 like folded leaves, but which, when older, be- 



