CHAP. I.] PODOPHYLLACE^. 253 



and Mahonia have yellow flowers ; and the 

 Mahonias all flower very abundantly, and very 

 early in spring. 



The principal other plants belonging to this 

 order are, Nandina domestica, a very pretty 

 shrub with white flowers, from China, which 

 requires a greenhouse in England ; several 

 species of Epimedium, some of which are from 

 Japan, with purple and white flowers ; a few 

 species of Leontice, pretty plants with yellow 

 flowers ; and a plant called Diphylleia cymosa^ 

 with white flowers and blue berries, a native of 

 North America. All these plants are easily re- 

 cognised by their broad stamens, and the curl- 

 ing back of the valves of their anthers. 



ORDER YII. PODOPHYLLACE^.— THE MAY-APPLE 

 TRIBE. 



This order contains only two genera; viz., 

 Podophyllum and Jeffersonia ; both of which have 

 a calyx of three or four sepals, and a white corolla 

 of from six to nine petals. Podophyllum has 

 numerous stamens, and a fleshy berry with only 

 one cell, which does not open when ripe ; and 

 Jeffersonia has eight or nine stamens, and a 

 capsule which opens all round the apex. Podo- 

 phyllum peltatum is the May-apple, and its fruit 

 is eatable when ripe, though very acid; the 



