

BERBERIDE.E. It 



ORDER V. BERBERIDE^. De Cand. Lind. 



Sepals 346, deciduous, in a double row, surrounded 

 externally by petaloid scales. Petals hypogynous, either 

 equal to the sepals in number and opposite to them, or twice 

 as many, generally with an -appendage at the base in the in- 

 side. Stamens equal in number to the petals, and opposite to 

 them ; anthers generally with two separated cells, opening 

 elastically with a valve from the bottom to the top. Ova- 

 ry solitary, 1-celled ; style rather lateral ; stigma orbicular, 

 Fruit a berry or capsule. Seeds 1,2 or 3, attached to the 

 bottom of the cell on one side ; cotyledons flat. 



Shrubs or herbs. Leaves alternate, compound, without sti- 

 pules. 



1. BERBERIS. Linn. 



Sepals 6. Petals 6, with 2 glands upon their claws. Sta- 

 mens without teeth, or with 2 -3 teeth. Berry 2 3 seeded. 

 Seeds 2, rarely 3, inserted laterally at the base of the cell. 



Hexandria. Monogynia. 



B. vulgaris Linn. : spines 3-parted ; leaves simple, obovate, attenu. 

 ate at base, ciliate-serrate ; racemes many flowered, pendulous ; petals 

 entire. B. canadensis Pursh. Nutt. 



HAB. Rocky hills. Throughout the U. S. and Can. April, May. 

 fj. A. shrub, 4 6 feet high. Leaves alternate. Flowers in pen- 

 dulous racemes, yellow. Berries red, of an agreeable acid. Ex- 

 actly similar to the European plant. Barberry. 



2. LEONTICE. Linn. 



Sepals 6, naked without. Petals 6, bearing a scale at the 

 base. Capsule 2 4 seeded. Seeds globose, inserted into 

 the bottom of the capsule. Hexandria. Monogynia. 



L. tfialictroidesLinn.: cauline leaf solitary, bi-tritenate; leafets 23 

 lobed ; flowers paniculate from the centre of the leaves. Caidophyttum 

 thalictroides Mich. 



HAB. Rocky woods. Throughout the U. S. and Can. April, 

 May. If . Stem a foot high. Flowers small, greenish-yellow. 

 Berries deep blue, globose, contracted below into a long stipitate 

 base. Whole plant turns almost black in drying. Cohosh. 



ORDER VI. PODOPHYLLE^E. Lind. 



Sepals 3 4, deciduous or persistent. Petals in two, three 

 or more rows, each of which is equal in number to the sepals. 



2* 



