BERBERIS BERCHEMIA 253 



Wilson, after whose wife it is named. This is one of the most charming new 

 introductions from W. China, of neat yet elegant habit, and most noteworthy 

 for its prettily coloured, abundant berries. The leaves are said by Wilson to 

 assume brilliant tints in autumn. 



B. YUNNANENSIS, Franchet. YUNNAN BARBERRY. 



A deciduous shrub, 3 to 6 ft. high of dense, rounded habit, with grey, 

 smooth branchlets, armed with three- or five-parted spines. Leaves obovate, 

 sometimes almost orbicular, f to i\ ins. long, \ to f, rarely i in. wide, 

 rounded or pointed at the apex, tapering to a stalk at the base ; margins mostly 

 entire on the flowering twigs, more often toothed on the sterile ones. Flowers 

 pale yellow, three to eight in a cluster; f in. across; flower-stalks slender, 

 f to i^ in. long. Berries oval, bright red, | in. long. 



Native of W. China ; first discovered in Yunnan by Delavay in 1885, at an 

 altitude of 10,000 ft. It reached cultivation by way of France, and was intro- 

 duced to Kew in 1904. It is a pretty shrub, and is distinct in regard to the 

 size of its flowers and fruit, both of which are amongst the largest in the genus. 

 It is also one of the most beautiful in its autumn livery of crimson. Closely 

 related to this species and united to it by intermediate forms is 



B. DIAPHANA, Maximowicz, a native of N. and W. China. It is figured 

 as B. yunnanensis in the Botanical Magazine, t. 8224, but differs in its leaves 

 on the flowering shoots being mostly very spiny-toothed, its fewer (one to five) 

 flowers in a cluster, and by the more numerous (six to eight) seeds in each 

 fruit. 



BERCHEMIA. RHAMNACE^:. 



A genus of deciduous, unarmed climbers or shrubs, with alternate 

 leaves prominently and numerously parallel-veined. Flowers small, with 

 five sepals and five petals, and not ornamental. Fruit a two-celled, 

 oblong berry. Three species are grown in gardens : one American, two 

 Asiatic. They like a good, moist, loamy soil, and can be propagated by 

 cuttings. Allied to Zizyphus and Paliurus, both of which differ in having 

 three-nerved leaves. 



B. FLAVESCENS, Wallich. 



A climbing, deciduous shrub, 6 to 10 ft. high, the shoots slender, smooth, or 

 with dark outstanding hairs. Leaves 2 to 6 ins. long, i to 2| ins. wide, 

 rounded or broadly tapered at the base, narrowed at the apex to a short tip, 

 smooth, and rather metallic green above, pale and either smooth, or with a 

 slight down on the midrib and lower ribs beneath ; ribs parallel, nine to 

 sixteen pairs ; stalk i to i in. long. Flowers white, \ in. across, produced in 

 pyramidal panicles ii to 4 ins. long, terminal on the leafy shoots of the year ; 

 flower-stalks \ to \ in. long, either smooth or hairy. Fruit sausage-shaped, 

 % in. long. 



Native of the Himalaya, Thibet, and W. China ; introduced from the last 

 named by Wilson in 1904, now growing in Coombe Wood nursery, where it 

 appears to be quite hardy. 



B. RACEMOSA, Sicbold. 



A deciduous shrub, with slender, flexible, round, smooth stems. Leaves 

 ovate with a heart-shaped base, \\ to 3 ins. long, half as much wide, entire, 

 rather pale or glaucous beneath ; veins in seven to nine pairs, parallel. Flowers 



