WINTER CRESS 133 



The name Guild refers to the yellow bark; the name Jaundice 

 Berry, again, refers to the so-called remedy, by " Doctrine of Signa- 

 tures ", that the yellow bark was a cure for jaundice, and it was taken 

 in ale for this purpose, being purgative. 



The scarlet berries were eaten for stomachic disorders, and they 

 contain malic acid, which in France is manufactured from them. They 

 make also a jelly, which is very delicious. 



There is tannin in the bark, and in Poland it was used for tanning 

 leather. Morocco leather, linen, and cloth are dyed from a dye made 

 from Barberry. It is used as an ornamental shrub in gardens. 



The berries are too acid for birds as a rule, but though bitter are 

 not unpleasant. They are put in sweetmeats. It is astringent as a 

 medicine, and has been used in bilious complaints. 



ESSENTIAL SPECIFIC CHARACTERS: 



15. Berberis vulgaris, L. Shrub, woody, spinose, leaves 3-fid 

 spines, racemes pendulous, single or fascicled, yellow, sepals 6, de- 

 ciduous, imbricate, petals 6 with 2 glands at base, fruit a berry, 2- 

 seeded. 



Winter Cress (Barbarea vulgaris, Ait.) 



In deposits containing remains of recent plants as seeds no trace 

 has as yet been found of this plant. It is widespread, occurring in the 

 Arctic and Temperate Zone, in Arctic Europe, Asia, the Himalayas 

 up to 17,000 ft, South Africa, Australia, and North America. It is 

 found in every county in Great Britain, except S. Lines, Stirling, North 

 Perth, Westerness, Main Argyle, and is absent from counties west of 

 the Caledonian Canal, except Caithness. It is found in Ireland. 



The Winter Cress is fond of waysides, where it grows in clumps on 

 the banks of the ditches. Probably its use as a salad may be to some 

 extent responsible for this. Elsewhere it can be found along the banks 

 of streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes, growing in more or less damp or 

 moist conditions, but it is frequently to be found also on rubbish heaps 

 and in waste places with other plants used in garnishing. 



It has an erect habit, having a single, rarely branched, usually 

 smooth, rarely downy, angular, main stem, with radical leaves, with 

 a large terminal and smaller paired lobes, and with rounded lobes, and 

 the upper leaves are inversely egg-shaped, sometimes arranged on 

 either side of a common stalk and toothed. This gives it a strict or 

 rigid habit. It grows in a clump, a number of plants in association 

 in flower being a pretty picture, as the flowers are numerous. The 

 under-side of the leaves is frequently purple, owing to the presence 



