CHAP. VIII. 



liEIiBEllA CF.F. BE UIIF.RIS. 



;^307 



Racemes short, many-flowered, corymbose, shorter than tlie leaves. Pedicels 

 elongated, 1-flowered. Berries oval. {Dun's Mill., i. p. 1 16.) A vigorous- 

 growing shrub, with numerous luxuriant side suckers, approaching in vigour 

 those of B. aristata ; but the leaves resembling those of B. hetcrophjUa. It 

 is a native of the East Indies and Nepal, and was introduced into England in 

 1820. B. asiatica, Royle observes, "is found on the Neelgherries, and was 

 called, by M. Lechenault de la Tour, B. tinctoria, from the use to which it 

 has been applied ; and it has been proved by the expe- 

 riments of M. Vauquelin to be inferior to few woods for 

 dyeing a yellow colour." (Bot/le's Illiist., p. 63.) Ac- 

 cording to Dr. Lindley, the fruit is round, covered over 

 with a thick bloom, and has altogether the appearance 

 of the finest raisins. In the garden of the London Hor- 

 ticultural Society the plants of this species are about 

 7 ft. high, and they flower and fruit freel}'. They are 

 , easily distinguished from B. aristata, by their very short 

 racemes. Plants 3s. 6d. each. 



IB 1-t. B. dealba'ta Liiidl- The whitened-/(?ff?'("f/ Ber- 

 berr}'. 



Identification. Bot. Reg.,t.l750, ; Pen. Cyc.,-1. p. 2(51. 



Synonyme. B. glai'ica Hort. 



Engraving. Bot. Reg., t. 1750. ; and our fig. 53. 



S^^ec. Char,. <.fc. Spines scarcely any. Leaves roundish, 

 coarsely toothed, rather glaucous, white beneath. Ra- 

 cemes very short and compact, pendulous. (Pen. Ci/c, 

 iv. p. 261.) A native of Mexico, whence it was intro- 

 duced into England by the London Horticultural So- 

 ciety in ? 1630. " It is a tall slender evergreen bush, 

 with deep brown branches, and scarcely any spines. 

 The flowers, which appear in December, are yellow, and the fruit red. The 

 leaves are sometimes wedge-shaped and 3-toothed, but more frequently 

 are nearly round, with two or three spiny teeth on every side." (Pen. Ci/c, 

 iv. p. 261.) A curious and beautiful species, well deserving of culti- 

 vation. There are plants in the Fulham Nursery 21*. each. 



£k 15. B. aristaVa Dec. The hristled-footh-leaved BerberiT. 



Identification. Hook. Exot. Flor., 2. t. 98. ; Dec. Prod., 1. p. 106 ; Don's Mill., I. p. 11.5. 

 Syniinymes. B. Cliitria Burh ; B. angustitt)lia Roxb. ; B. sinensis Dcsf. 

 Engravings. Hook. Exot. Flor., t. 98. ; Bot. Reg., t. 729. ; and our fig! 'li. 



Spec. Cliar., c^-c. Lower spines 3-parted, 

 simple ; leaves obovate-acute, tapering much 

 to the base, ending in a mucro (prickly 

 point) at the apex, membranous, smooth 

 on both sides, serrated, with 4 or 5 bristly 

 teeth. Racemes nodding, many-flowered, 

 longer than the leaves. Berries oblong. 

 {Don's MUl.,\. p. 115. adapted.) A robust 

 shrub, very distinct from any of the pre- 

 ceding species or varieties, growing with 

 extraordinary vigour, and capable of being 

 formed into a very handsome small tree. 

 It is a native of Nepal, and is found on moun- 

 tains at from 5000 ft. to 8000 ft. of ele- 

 vation, flowering there in May. The root 

 and wood are of a dark yellow colour, and form the yellow wood of Persian 

 authors ; they are used as a tlye, and, being bitter and a little astringent, they, as 

 well as the bark, are employed in medicine. {Roijle's Illnst., p. 63.) The plant 

 was introtluced into England in 1820, and is already in several gardens. In 

 Nopal, the fruit of this species is dried, like grapes for forming raisins, in the 



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