226 CHINESE PINNATED BERBERRIES. 



2. Berberis consanguifiea. 



The second species {Berberis consanguinea) was found in the 

 same distiict by one of my Chinese servants. It is easily distin- 

 guished from the former by the colour of its stems and leaves, 

 which are of a light green. The leaflets are also more lanceolate 

 in form, and have a tendency to vary ; that is, some are lanceolate 

 and some ovate or corolate. This is scarcely inferior in beauty 

 to the last, and no doubt quite as hardy. 



3. Berberis tr if urea. 



The third species (^Berberis trifurca, Lindl.) was found in the 

 province of Chekiang, and near the coast. I bought it in a 

 cottage garden, but I was informed afterwards that it is culti- 

 vated extensively on account of the dye which it furnishes. It 

 may be easily known from the other species by its dark green 

 lanceolate leaflets, and, as Dr. Lindley has well observed, by the 

 terminal one, wdiich is almost always sessile. Its young stems 

 are also covered with scales of a clear reddish purple colour, 

 which give it a marked appearance. It is just possible that this 

 species may be less hardy than the former, having been found 

 about two degrees further to the south. This, however, remains 

 to be proved, as it may have been brought south to the province 

 of Chekiang for the purposes of cultivation. 



There is a marked difference between tiiese three Chinese 

 species and the Himalayan Berberis nepalensis which it may be 

 well to notice. The leaves of the Chinese kinds are of a stout 

 and leathery texture, somewhat like the common holly, while 

 those of the Himalayan species are thin and more flimsy. This 

 difference in structure may be owing to the Himalayan plant 

 courting situations of shelter and shade, and moreover accounts 

 for its being less suited to bear the extreme cold to which the 

 northern Chinese plants are liable. 



The Chinese Berberries just noticed are all in the nursery of 

 Messrs. Standish and Noble at Bagshot, but they are at present 

 extremely rare and not for sale. They are propagated readily 

 from cuttings ; but although they grow vigorously enough, there 

 is a difficulty in getting any number of young shoots for the pur- 

 poses of propagation. As soon as they produce seeds they may 

 be expected to become plentiful, and will no doubt be highly 

 prized by all lovers of ornamental Evergreens. 



