THALAMIFLOR^ 75 



the Buttercup group and the Menispermacese, and 

 some resemblance also with the Laurel group in the 

 dehiscence of the anthers ; and in having the parts 

 of the flower in threes the group is akin to the 

 Monocotyledons. 



The group includes plants which possess astrin- 

 gent properties, and yield a yellow dye for linen and 

 leather. The berries are acid, but edible. Many of 

 the foreign Barberries are garden shrubs, especially 

 the Mahonias. 



The spines are reduced leaves, and the leaves are 

 developed in their axils. Probably the spines are 

 both a protection to the plant and also serve to 

 enable it to resist drought. 



Barberry {Berberis vidgavis). 



There are certain plants that for one reason or 

 another have got themselves into bad odour. The 

 Barberry is one of those. The reason is simply this. 

 There is a microscopic fungus which infests the 

 leaves, forming red spots. When it is ripe the 

 spores are blown by the wind and settle upon wheat, 

 and there form wheat-rust, with black spores in 

 autumn, called wheat-mildew, which produce a third 

 type with red spores which infests the Barberry. 

 Another stage is passed through on the leaves of 

 grasses. 



Though found in all parts of the British Isles, in 

 Scotland and Ireland, as a naturalised shrub. Bar- 

 berry is very frequently planted, as it makes a good 



