244 BERBERIS 



B. JAPONICA, ft. Brown. JAPANESE MAHONIA. 



(Mahonia japonica, De Candolle.') 



An evergreen shrub of very stiff, sturdy, erect habit ; its thick, unbranched 

 stems, 10 ft. or perhaps more high, bearing a few leaves at the top. Leaves 



1 to i^ ft. long, composed of seven, nine, eleven, or thirteen leaflets, which are 



2 to 5 ins. long, i to 3^ ins. wide, obliquely ovate, very hard and stiff; dark 

 dull green, armed on each margin with four to six large spiny teeth ; the 

 lowest and smallest pair situated at, or very close to, the base of the leaf-stalk 

 (a good distinction from B. nepalensis). Flowers lemon-yellow, delightfully 

 fragrant, borne in a cluster of numerous slender, erect racemes 6 to 9 ins. 

 long, terminating the stem ; the fragrance resembles that of the lily of the 

 valley. Berries oblong, as much as i in. long, purple. 



Var. BEALEI (Mahonia Bealei, Carriere). A distinct variety of great 

 vigour, the leaflets larger, broader, more rounded, and with fewer spines ; the 

 bases of each pair often overlap. The racemes also are finer, the flower-stalks 

 shorter. It is the most striking of all the Mahonias, the leaflets being some- 

 times 8 ins. long and 6 ins. wide. Introduced from China in 1845, by Fortune, 

 who regarded it as a distinct species ; it was figured as B. Bealei in the 

 Botanical Magazine ^ t. 4852. 



These two Mahonias, with others of an intermediate character, are the 

 most striking of all the group to which they belong. Their flower-clusters 

 commence to open in February, and continue in beauty for several weeks. 

 Allied to B. nepalensis, B. japonica is readily distinguished in its typical form 

 by its duller leaves, having the lowest pair of leaflets close to the base of the 

 leaf-stalk. The variety Bealei is much hardier, and will thrive (as at Kew) 

 where B. nepalensis fails. It should, all the same, be given a sheltered spot, 

 and settled in its permanent position as early as possible, for few shrubs suffer 

 more from transplanting. This operation may be successfully done during 

 a showery time in May. 



Var. GRACILLIMA is described as having smaller leaflets than the type 

 about 2 ins. long and f in. wide but I do not know that it is in cultivation 

 in Britain. 



B. LEVis, Franchet. 



An evergreen shrub of bushy habit, 5 or 6 ft. high, its branchlets stiff, 

 smooth, armed with slender, stiff triple spines i to i^ ins. long. Leaves 

 oblanceolate, tapering more gradually towards the base, often widest above 

 the middle; i\ to 3^ ins. long, ^ to f in. wide; not wavy at the margins but 

 set there with sharp, bristle-like spines ; dark, rather glossy green above, 

 paler beneath and very smooth, the veins scarcely visible. Flowers in 

 clusters of usually six to twelve, sometimes more, \ to \ in. wide, yellow. 

 Fruit described by Wilson as at first red, finally jet-black, without bloom. 



Native of W. Szechuen, China; introduced in 1909. A promising vigorous 

 evergreen. It has been confused with B. Gagnepainii, but as seen growing 

 side by side the two are very distinct. The latter differs from B. levis in its 

 leaves being very wavy, duller, and broadest below the middle, the stems 

 more clustered, erect, and less branched. 



B. LYCIUM, Royle. 



(Bot. Mag., t. 7075.) 



A deciduous or semi-evergreen shrub, of spreading habit, 6 or 8 ft. 

 high ; young shoots furnished with fine down. Leaves narrowly obovate, light 

 green above, glaucous beneath, varying in length in each tuft from | to 2 ins. 



