32 MENISPERMACE^. Mbnisperhiw. 



the base. Filaments scarcely thickened at the summit : anthers of 4 spherical lobes. Ra- 

 cemes of fruit resembling Frost grapes. Drupe stipitate, about one-third of an inch in dia- 

 meter, nearly black when mature, pruinose, curved so that the style and base are nearly in 

 contact ; pulp small in quantity. Nut compressed, forming a nearly complete ring. Seed 

 terete, annular. Embryo linear, in the axis of fleshy albumen, and nearly of the same 

 length. 



Banks of rivers, woods, and in thickets ; common. Fl. June - July. Fr. September - 

 October. The root is employed as a tonic and diuretic, also as a detergent in cutaneous 

 diseases (Dr. /. M. Bigelow). See RiddeVs Synops. Western Flora. 



Order V. BERBERIDACE^. Vent.; R. Br. The Barberry Tribe. 



Flowers perfect. Sepals 3-9, deciduous, imbricated in one or more rows, often 

 colored and calyculate with petaloid scales. Petals as many as the sepals and 

 opposite them ! or twice as many, often with a gland or appendage at the base 

 inside. Stamens as many as the petals and opposite them ! (twice as many as 

 in Podophyllum) : anthers extrorse ; the cells commonly opening by a valve 

 from the bottom to the top. Ovary solitary, simple : style continuous, often 

 somewhat lateral or oblique : stigma orbicular or peltate. Fruit baccate or 

 capsular. Seeds one or few, and then occupying only the top or bottom of the 

 cell ; or numerous and attached to the whole ventral suture, sometimes arillate : 

 embryo in the axis, or near the base of fleshy or horny albumen. 



Tribe I. BERBERIDE^. Torr. ^ Gr. 



Embryo in the axis, and occupying nearly the whole length of the albumen : radicle long : 

 cotyledons flat, elliptical. — Shrubs. Leaves compound or reduced to a single leaflet, 

 often stipulate. Flowers yellow. Filaments irritable. 



1. BERBERIS. Linn.; Endl. gen. A8U. BERBEBRY. 



[Berberys, the Arabic name of the plant.] 



Sepals 6, usually with three bracteoles at the base. Petals 6, commonly with two glands on 

 the inside of each at the base. Stamens 6. Stigma orbicular, depressed, nearly sessile, 

 rarely with a distinct style. Fruit a 1 - 9-seeded berry. Seeds erect. 



