BERBERIS DARWINII. 103 



of foliage. In the true Berberries, there is an appendage at the base of each 

 petal, sometimes termed a gland : but as it does not appear to be a secreting organ, 

 it cannot be regarded as a glandular body. In the Ash- Berberries these appendages 

 are wanting ; or to speak more correctly, appear to have been transferred to the 

 stamens, on the upper part of which, just below the anthers, will be found a 

 tooth-like projection on each side. They both agree, however, in possessing six petals 

 and sepals, the latter arranged in two series, the outer ones being the smallest. 

 The stamens are opposite to the petals, a circumstance which, takeu in conjunction 

 with the structure of the anther, enables us at a glance to distinguish a plant of 

 the order Berber idacece. The anther cells of most plants open by simple fissures ; 

 in a few instances, as in the Heath Order, by pores : but in the Berberries the 

 pollen escapes by a valve, or in other words, ' the face of the anther-cell peels off, 

 t-xcept at the point, where it adheres as by a hinge.' This structure is found in 

 the Laurel tribe, to which the Sweet-Bay (Lauras nobilisj belongs ; but that order 

 (Lauracece) is without petals. 



Everybody is familiar with the singular irritability of the stamens of the common 

 Berberis (B. vulgaris J, which, if touched by any hard substance at a certain stage 

 of their growth, spriug forward, and discharge their pollen upon the stigma. The 

 fruit of all the Berberries contains a sharp acid, probably the malic, and the bark 

 and stem of several species are astringent, and yield a yellow dye. 



The section with simple leaves, of which the Berberis Barwinii is an example, 

 are remarkable for the strong pungent spines found at the base of the fascicles of 

 leaves. These are entirely wanting in the Mahonias, or those Berberries furnished 

 with pinnated foliage ; a circumstance quite in accordance with the views 

 entertained by most Botanists with regard to the origin of these somewhat formidable 

 organs. 



As most of our readers are doubtless aware, spines are considered to be either 

 leaves or branches whose development has been arrested, the midrib (in the case of 

 a leaf), or principal vein, becoming hardened and the parenchyma, or soft portion of 

 the leaf, being completely absent. Plants, which in their wild state -are furnished 

 with spines, often lose them under cultivation ; and we think it possible that the 

 converse would prove true, that some cultivated plants, if placed in such conditions 

 as would ensure a stunted growth, might become spinous. 



The Berberis Barwinii is at present rather expensive ; but many valuable species 

 are to be obtained at a cheap rate. The Berberis aauifolia should be in every 

 garden, as its low price places it within the reach of the humblest cultivator, and it 

 thrives in any moderately good soil, especially if a little shaded. The species 

 repens, umbellata, empetrifolia, and fascicular is, are all attainable for a very reasonable 

 sum, and are excellent plants for the shrubbery, and will flourish even under the 

 drip of trees. 



