50 MOONSEED FAMILY 



Numerous forms and varieties have been developed through cultiva- 

 tion, among which the following is the most commonly planted within 

 the state. 



Var. atropurpurea Regel. 



With purple-colored leaves, otherwise like the species. 



Berberis Thunbergii De Candolle 1818 



Low very dense shrub, .5-1 meter (1.5-3 ft.) high; branches spread- 

 ing and slightly curved, twigs brown, grooved ; leaves in dense fascicles, 

 spatulate rounded or sometimes mucronate-tipped at the apex, glabrous 

 thruout, glaucescent beneath, entire, .5-4 cm. long, .2-1 cm. wide, fascicle 

 subtended by simple spines; flowers 1-3 (mostly 1) terminating the short 

 shoots, yellow with pinkish bracts, 6-8 mm. broad, pedicels 8-10 mm. long; 

 fruit elliptic or ovoid, bright red when ripe, about 8 mm. long) named 

 for the botanist Thunberg. 



Planted extensively as an ornamental shrub on account of its dense 

 spreading growth, its dark red berries, as well as the handsome autumn 

 coloring of the foliage. It is especially well adapted for borders of 

 walks and drives and is perfectly hardy in our climate. Native of Japan. 



Menispermaceae Moonseed Family 



Climbing or twining, woody or herbaceous vines; leaves alternate, 

 palmate or peltate, entire or lobed, stipules lacking; flowers in panicles, 

 racemes or cymes, small, dioecious; sepals 4-12; petals 6, in two whorls 

 of 3 each, sometimes fewer or none, imbricated in the bud; stamens 

 about the same number as petals; carpels 3 to many (mostly 6), ovule 

 one ; fruit a drupe, ovary often curving in developing into a fruit, caus- 

 ing the seed to be bent into a crescent. 



The family is chiefly tropical and is represented in the Minnesota 

 flora by the following genus only. 



Menispermum L i n 11 e 1753 Moonseed 

 (Gr. m e n e, crescent, s p e r m a, seed.) 



Climbing vines with large peltate or cordate, lobed or alternate leaves ; 

 flowers in panicles, small, dioecious ; sepals 4-8, in two series or whorls ; 

 petals 6-8, shorter than the sepals; stamens 12-24; pistils in the fertile 

 flowers 2-4, on a raised receptacle, staminodia usually present ; stigma broad 

 and flat ; fruit a flattened drupe ; seed bent into a crescent, hence the name. 



