3'2 FLOE A OF MADKAS [Berberi*. 



opposite to the petals ; filaments free or connate, sometimes 

 irritable. Anthers bursting by two apical valves attached by their 

 upper end or longitudinally. Carpels 1-3 (-9) distinct ; stigma 

 usually peltate ; ovules many on a ventral suture, or few near the 

 base, or covering the whole wall, usually anatropous. Ripe carpels 

 berries or capsules, dehiscent or not. 



Leaves simple 1. Berberis. 



Leaves pinnate 2. Mahonia. 



1. Berberis, Linn. 



Erect shrubs with yellow wood. Leaves simple, fascicled in the 

 axils of 3-5-partite or rarely simple spines. Flowers yellow, 

 solitary fascicled racemose corymbose or panicled, with 2-3 

 small appressed bracteoles. Sepals 6, imbricate in 2 whorls. 

 Petals 6, imbricate in 2 whorls, usually with 2 glands inside at 

 the base. Stamens 6, free ; anther-cells opening by recurved 

 valves. Ovary simple ; stigmas peltate, sessile or nearly so ; 

 ovules few, basal, erect. Berries few-seeded. 

 BERBERIS TINCTORIA, Lesch. ; W. & A. 16. 



An erect evergreen bush with pale brown shining twigs, 

 prickly leaves, yellow flowers in panicles or corymbs, and 

 glaucous spindle-shaped red berries with short stout styles. 

 Nilgiri and Pulney Hills of the W. Ghats, above 6,000 ft. ; 

 Shevaroy Hills of Salem. 



2. Mahonia, Nutt. 



Characters of BERBERIS but leaves pinnate with opposite leaflets, 

 and stamens usually 2-toothed below the anther. 



MAHONIA LESCHENAULTII, Takeda. Berberis nepalensis, var. 



Leschenaultii, Hook. f. & Thorns. ; F. B. I. i. 109 B. Leschen- 



aultii, Wall. ; Wt. Ic. t. 940. 



A shrub with stiff, erect, corky-barked stems ; leaflets ovate- 

 lanceolate, prickly ; flowers yellow, in long erect racemes, 

 fascicled among the upper leaves ; berries globose, glaucous 

 purple. 



Hills of the W. Ghats from the Nilgiris southwards, above 

 5,000 ft., in Shola forest. 



