SHRUBS 471 



wheat. A law in Massachusetts once compelled farmers who 

 cultivated wheat to cut down all barberry bushes near their fields. 



To those not interested in wheat cultivation, the yellow ra- 

 cemes of flowers and scarlet fruit of the barberry make it a wel- 

 come attendant of our drives, found, as it is, in exposed situations, 

 bordering woods and fields. Its range is throughout New Eng- 

 land, as far north as Canada and Newfoundland. It keeps near 

 the coast, in gravelly soil. 



Shrub 5 to 8 feet high, with grayish bark. It has been planted with 

 success for hedges. It is used to tan leather, and for a yellow dye. 



4. American Barberry 



B. Canadensis is of lower growth than the last, i to 3 feet 

 high. Leaves, wavy-margined and toothed. Petals, notched. 

 Fruit an oval berry. 



Found in the Alleghany Mountains, in Virginia, and southward. 



5. Loblolly-bay 



Gordbnia Lasianthus. — jR?;////y, Tea, or Cammellia. Color, 

 white. Leaves, leathery, lance-shaped to oblong, finely toothed, 

 smooth, shiny. Time, May to July. 



Sepals and petals, 5, the latter i4^ inches long. Stamens, in 

 clusters at the base of each petal. Style, i. Pod, 5-valved. Flow- 

 ers, showy, borne on long peduncles, in the axils of the leaves. 



A shrub or small tree, found in Virginia swamps and southward. 



6. Shrubby St. John's-wort 



Hypericum prollficum. — Family, St. John's-wort. Color, 

 deep yellow. Leaves, narrow, and i to 2 inches long, dotted, 

 opposite, obtuse, many. Time, July to September. 



Sepals, 5. Petals, 5. Stamens, many, conspicuous, stand- 

 ing up from the wide-spreading petals. Styles, 3, and red pod 

 3-celled. The flowers are clustered at the ends of the branch- 

 lets. Its height varies from i or 2 feet to 4 or 5. 



New Jersey to Michigan, and soutliward. 



