[ 102 ] 



BERBERIS DARWIN II. 



Danvins' Barberry. 

 Linnean Class — IIexandria. Order— Monogynia. Natural Order — Bekheuidack.t:. 



Few gardens are now without an example of the evergreen species of Berber -is; and 

 the general characteristics of this valuable tribe of plants are, therefore, pretty well 

 known. Less robust in its growth than some others of this genus, and witb foliage 

 inferior in size to the pinnated leaves of the Mahonias, the Berberis Dancinii yet 

 possesses in its elegant pendant racemes of flowers, an attraction peculiar to itself, 

 and which fully justifies tbe high praise bestowed upon it in the principal Horti- 

 cultural publications of the day. 



The Berberries are very widely diffused throughout the temperate regions of the 

 globe. Those more commonly seen in cultivation are of North American origin ; 

 several valuable species are natives of Asiatic climes ; whilst the Berberis Larwinii 

 comes to us from bleak Patagonia, whose shores are now invested with so melan- 

 choly an interest from the painful death of Captain Gardiner and his fellow 

 missionaries. It appears to be also indigenous to the Chilian territory, including 

 the island of Chiloe. On its native mountains, it is often found growing near the 

 summer limit of snow, and is therefore likely to prove quite as hardy as the North 

 American species, which are known to bear our winters admirably. B. Darwinii is 

 distinguished from nearly all the other species by the ferruginous pubescence of the 

 young shoots. The leaves, although small, are so thickly disposed upon the 

 branches, that these are quite concealed. 



The beauty of the plant is much enhanced by the purplish tint of the peduncles, 

 which contrasts admirably with the rich orange yellow of the flowers and deep 

 glossy green of the foliage. Like the other species, it delights in a free loamy soil, 

 and may be increased by cuttings, division, or seed. 



The Berberries with pinnated leaves, were formerly known as Mahonias, and they 

 are still classed as such in most of the trade catalogues ; but this distinction is not 

 now maintained by Botanists, the compound foliage being regarded as insufficient 

 to justify a division of the genus. These plants are now usually divided into two 

 sections, the true Berberries, with simple foliage ; and the Ash-Berberries, with 

 compound foliage (so termed from the supposed resemblance of the leaves to 

 those of the Ash). It is, however, worth while pointing out that there are one 

 or two marks of distinction between these two sections, in addition to the difference 



