74 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



They are mainly natives of the North Temperate zone, 

 not occurring in the Tropics, except at high altitudes 

 or in the Subtropical zone, as in North India. 



They are herbaceous perennials or shrubs. The 

 leaves are thin, pale green, deciduous, without 

 stipules, and alternate. The flowers are usually in 

 racemes, hermaphrodite, and regular. The floral 

 organs have the parts in threes, with 3 or 6 sepals, 

 petals, and stamens. There are four whorls, the 

 outer two — the sepals — coloured, and the inner are 

 the honey-leaves. 



The anthers opposite the petals open by valves, 

 which are turned back, having flaps, which lift 

 upwards and so discharge pollen, a unique arrange- 

 ment amongst British plants, occurring only else- 

 where amongst Laurels. The stamens are also 

 irritable or sensitive, and bend forwards if touched 

 towards the centre, and touch the stigma. After a 

 time they unbend. This only happens in dry 

 weather. If a poison be applied to the anthers they 

 become rigid and brittle, and if a narcotic is applied 

 they become limp and are relaxed. The two inner 

 whorls of the perianth are honey-leaves with nec- 

 taries. 



The fruit, a berr3^,or dry fruit, opens in various ways. 



In Britain the Barberry group also includes 

 Epimedinm alpimun, the Barrenwort, which is 

 naturahsed in this country. It has four petals and 

 a many-seeded pod. 



The Barberry group has close relationship with 



