BERBERIS 245 



with a few teeth towards the apex, or with none, but always spine-tipped. Thorns 

 three-parted, | to | in. long. Racemes 2 to 3 ins. in length, carrying from 

 twelve to thirty flowers, each $ in. across, bright yellow. Berries in. long, 

 oblong, covered with a fine blue-purple bloom. 



Native of the Himalaya, and quite hardy at Kew, where it flowers in May 

 and June. It was in cultivation there in 1853, and had probably been intro- 

 duced by Sir Joseph Hooker a few years previously. This plant yields the 

 drug known as " Lycium," used for ages in inflammatory affections of the eyes. 

 The beautiful purplish berries are eaten in N. India. It is a species distinct 

 in the hard, pale green leaves, conspicuously net-veined above, glaucous 

 beneath, and almost entire. 



B. NEPALENSIS, Sprengel. NEPAL BARBERRY. 



(Mahonia nepalensis, De Candolle.) 



An evergreen shrub, sometimes 20 ft. high in the Himalaya, but rarely more 

 than one-third as high in Britain. Leaves with as many as twenty-five 

 leaflets, usually about fifteen. Leaflets dark glossy green, obliquely ovate, 

 lanceolate, i^ to 4^ ins. long, the lowest pair broader and shorter than the 

 others, spine-toothed, of firm, leathery texture. Flowers yellow, borne in 

 slender racemes 6 to 12 ins. long. Berries oval or nearly globose, about J in. 

 diameter, covered with blue-white bloom. 



Native of the Himalaya, this barberry is too tender to thrive well except in 

 the milder parts of Britain, or in exceptionally sheltered spots. At Kew it 

 lives but a short time out-of-doors, although it has succeeded well in a 

 sheltered spot in the gardens of Belvoir Castle for a good many years. It has 

 by some authorities been united with B. japonica, but is sufficiently dis- 

 tinguished by its more numerous, smaller, even-sized and more tapering 

 leaflets, and the brilliantly polished upper surface. For the milder counties it is 

 a most desirable shrub, commencing to flower as early as October, but at its 

 best in March and April. Several forms of it exist, some of which approach 

 B. japonica. 



B. NERVOSA, Pursh. 

 (Bot. Mag., t. 3949 ; B. glumacea, Sprengel ; Mahonia nervosa, Nuttall.} 



A low, evergreen shrub, with stems rarely more than 12 or 15 ins. high, 

 and handsome pinnate leaves up to 18 ins. long, composed of usually eleven to 

 fifteen leaflets. Leaflets stalkless, \\ to 3 ins. long, obliquely ovate, very firm 

 and leathery in texture, prominently three-veined beneath, the margins armed 

 with large, spiny teeth. Racemes erect, 8 ins. or even more in length, with 

 short-stalked, yellow flowers. Fruit roundish oblong, \ in. diameter, purplish 

 blue. 



Native of Western N. America, especially of the State of Washington ; 

 introduced in 1822. It is a handsome and striking barberry, but does not 

 appear to thrive very well in this country generally ; it always has been and 

 still remains rare. It can only be propagated readily by seeds, and these do 

 not appear to ripen freely in the English climate. The foliage most nearly 

 resembles that of B. nepalensis, but B. nervosa is readily distinguished by its 

 dwarf habit, and the greater distance of the lowest pair of leaflets from the 

 base of the common leaf-stalk. 



B. NEUBERTII, Baumann. NEUBERT'S HYBRID BARBERRY. 



(B. ilicifolia of gardens, not of Forster.') 



An evergreen, or partially evergreen shrub, of loose, open habit, 4 to 6 ft. 

 high. Leaves very variable ; sometimes simple, obovate, i| to 3 ins. long, with 



