76 THE STORY OF PLANT LIFE 



hedge, owing to the spinous modified leaves, in clusters 

 of three, with leaves in the axils. The fruit also is 

 luscious, and may be one reason for its former abund- 

 ance. But regarded as a cause of wheat-rust by 

 farmers before it was scientifically demonstrated, it 

 has been rooted out of many of its former strongholds. 

 There even existed an American law to prevent the 

 spread of it, on account of the damage to crops. 



The Barberry is a woody shrub, the wood yellow 

 and acid; and the whole plant is without hair and 

 pale green. There are long shoots with the leaves 

 forming groups of spines owing to arrest of the 

 branches, and short shoots in the axils of the spines, 

 with leaves and flowers, and they may later become 

 long shoots. The long spines form an example of 

 adaptation to dry conditions, the spines not develop- 

 ing where moisture is abundant. 



The leaves are alternate, and on the woody shoots 

 shortly stalked. They are simple, but jointed to a 

 short sheath and evidently originally compound. 

 They are coarsely toothed and inversely ovate. 



The flowers have the parts in threes, which is 

 unusual amongst Dicotyledons, and characteristic 

 of Monocotyledons — six sepals, six petals, six 

 stamens. They are yellow, strong-scented, and 

 borne in racemes, which are drooping and terminal. 

 There are short, triangular bracts. The stigma is 

 broad and black, and has no style. 



The scarlet berry is oblong, flattened, and curved, 

 contrasting strongly with the green foliage. 



