CHAP. I.] BERBERIDE^. 251 



Berberry, which differ principally in the size of 

 the flowers and in the colour of the fruit ; but 

 which also vary in the size and shape of the 

 leaves, and in the manner in which they are 

 toothed. 



The Ash-leaved Berberries were formed into 

 a separate genus called Mahonia by Nuttall ; 

 and this genus has been adopted by Professor 

 de Candolle, and other botanists. Dr. Lindley, 

 however, includes all the species in the genus 

 Berberis, and he has been followed by Mr. 

 George Don in his new edition of Sweet's 

 Hortus Britannicus. Whether the genus Ma- 

 honia be a good one or not, the plants com- 

 posing it are very distinct from the true 

 Berberries. The leaves of the Mahonias are 

 evergreen, and pinnate ; and the leaflets instead 

 of being fringed with fine hairs, are broadly 

 serrated, the points being tipped by a sharp 

 prickle or mucro (see a in Jig. 109) ; and the 

 petiole is articulated, and somewhat stem- 

 clasping at the base {h). The flowers are in 

 erect racemes, and smaller than those of the 

 Berberry ; they are also more globular, being 

 less widely opened, and the petals are without 

 any glands. The filaments of the stamens have 

 two hair-like teeth just below the lobes of the 

 anthers ; and the fruit has from three to nine 

 seeds in each berry ; while the Berberries have 



