V. MENISPERMA X CEJ. VI. BERBERA* CEJE. 



41 



Svnonvmes. Menispermum L. ; Wendlandm Willd. ; Androphilax Wendl. 



Derivation. From coccus, the systematic name of cochineal ; which is applied to this genus on 

 account of the greater number of the species bearing scarlet berries. 



Gen. Char. Sepals and petals disposed in a ternary order, in 2, very rarely in 

 3, series. Male flowers with 6 tree stamens opposite the petals ; female ones 

 with 3 or 6 carpels. Drupes baccate, 1 to 6, usually obliquely reniform, 

 somewhat flattened, 1-seeded. Cotyledons distant. (Don's MM.) 



Leaves simple, alternate, exstipulate, deciduo.is ; cordate or ovate, entire 

 or lobed. Flowers small. The only hardy species is C. carolinus, a native 

 of Carolina, of the same culture as Menispermum. 



J, 1. CO'CCULUS CAROLI'MJS Dec. The Carolina Cocculus. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 1. p. 98. ;; Don's Mill., 1. 

 p. 107. 



Synoni/mes. Menispermum carollnum Lin.; Wend- 

 land'/rt populifolia Willd., 1'ursk, and Dill. ; Andro- 

 philax scftndens Wendl. ; Baumg&rtz'o scandens 

 Moench; Menisperme de la Caroline, Fr.\ Caroli- 

 nischer Mondsaame, Gcr. 



Engravings. Dil. Elth., 223. t. 178. f. 219. ; Wendl. 

 Obs., 3. 1. 16. ; and our Jig. 51. 



Spec. Char., $c. Leaves cordate or ovate, 

 entire, obtuse, and somewhat 3-lobed; 

 under surface velvety pubescent. Male 

 racemes floriferous from the base, female 

 ones 3-flowered. (Don's Mill.) A twin- 

 ing, deciduous, suffruticose shrub. North 

 Carolina and Georgia. Height 6 ft. to 

 10ft. Introduced in 1759 Flowers 

 small, greenish ; June and July. Fruit 

 red ; ripe in September. Decaying 

 leaves yellowish or brownish. 



Leaves extremely variable in form, 2 in. 

 to 4 in. long, often quite entire, but 

 usually with several sinuated, obtuse lobes. 

 Drupe red, as large as a small pea. 



5 1 . Cdcculus carolknu*. 



ORDER VI. BERBERA^CE^E. 



ORD. CHAR. Sepals usually 6, in two whorls, deciduous, and furnished with 

 petal-like scales on the outside. The petals are equal in number with the 

 sepals, and the stamens equal in number with the petals, and opposite to 

 them. The anthers " open by reflexed valves ; that is to say, the face of 

 each cell of the anther peels off except at the point, where it adheres as if 

 it were hinged there ;" a structure so remarkable, Dr. Lindley observes, as to 

 be " found in no European plants except Berberdcece and the laurel tribe." 

 (Penny Cyc., vol. iv. p. 259.) Bushy shrubs, which throw up numerous 

 suckers ; natives of the temperate climates of Europe, Asia, and North 

 America. 



Leaves simple or compound, alternate, generally exstipulate, deciduous 

 or persistent; shoots generally furnished with prickles; the sap, and the 

 colour of the leaves and bark, more or less yellow. Flowers generally 

 yellow. The genera containing species hardy in British gardens are two, 

 Berberis and Mahom'a, which are thus contradistinguished : 



BE?RBERIS L. Petals with 2 glands on the inside of each. Stamens tooth- 

 less. Leaves undivided. 



MAHO N N/^ Nutt. Petals without glands. Stamens furnished with a tooth on 

 each side. Leaves pinnate. 



