6 NEILGHERRY PLANTS. 
IV. BERBERIDE 4.— Barberry. 
This is a small family of finely flowering shrubs, natives of the temperate regions of both the 
Northern and Southern hemisphere. In the Indian Peninsula two species certainly occur, a 
third is said to be found in the Coorg jangles, but onthat point there still seems room for doubt. 
Both are found on the Neilgherries, the one here represented being by far the handsomer of 
the two. Other nine genera are referred to the order but this is the only one found in 
Southern Indian. The peculiar distinguishing mark by which this family is separated 
from the rest of the vegetable kingdom is the curious anthers, which open like the lid of a 
snuff box to give exit to the Pollen, combined witha very perfect flower. The cinnamon 
tribe (Laurine) have similar anthers but very incomplete flowers in comparison with those of 
Berberide@, and are in consequence far removed from them in our linear series of natural 
orders, but, notwithstanding, they have many points in common, showing a closer relationship 
than might at first sight be suspected—among these are the ternary arrangement of the 
flowers, the valved anthers, and single superior ovary. 
The filaments of some, if not all the species, of this genus are endowed with a 
peculiar irritability, which causes them when touched at a certain point near the base to con- 
tract elastically and strike the anther against tke stigma and in that way. scatter their pollen 
on it. This property exists in both the N eilgherry plants, 
The properties of the 
wood are mildly astringent and bitter, 
and in the upper provinces an extract is prepared by 
boiling the wood which is highly esteemed by the natives on account of its medicinal qualities, 
In upper Bengal the fruit of two species are dried, like raisins in the sun, and sold as 
kistmisses in the bazars all over the country. 
BERBERIS.—Barberry. 
Sepals 3-4-6, deciduous, in a double row, accompanied externally with petaloid scales. Petals 
hypogynous, equal to the sepals in number and opposite to them, or twice as many ; often furnished in the 
inside with an appendage at the base. Stamens hypogynous, equal in number to the petals and opposite te 
them: anthers bilocular, the cells opening elastically with a valve from the bottom to the top. Ovarium 
Solitary, unilocular, containing 2-12 ovules, which are erect, or attached laterally to the inner margin, and 
forming there one or two rows: style sometimes lateral, short : stigma orbicular. Fruit baccate or capsular, 
indehiscent, Albumen fleshy or horney. Embryo straight, in the axis of the albumen: radicle Pointing to 
the hilum : cotyledons flat,—Leaves alternate, without stipules.—W. and A. Prod. p. 15 No. I, 
The species of this genus, amounting to about 50, are nearly all shrubs or at most small trees armed 
either on their stems or leaves with numerous thorns. in those with thorny stems the thorns are considered 
amodified state of the leaves in which the parenchema or dilated portion is displaced and the ribe or veins 
have become indurated. Some Botanists propose dividing it, removing the plant here figured along with some 
others to form the genius Mphonia which however only differs in the petals wanting two glands at the base 
which the others have, a character cousidered altogether insufficient for the purpose. On this account the 
older name is here preserved All the plants of this section of the genus are very handsome shrubs. The 
one figured is common on the hills and when" growing in favourable situations “attains the size of a small tree 
A pale yellow dye is extracted from the wood of both the Hill species, a third species belonging to the 
Mahonia division with drooping racemes of flowers is, I am told, foundin Coorg, and which I think I once saw 
