438 



BERBERIDACE^E. 



[Hypogynous Exogens. 



Among the conflicting opinions of Botanists who have referred these plants to many 

 different places, it appears clear that they are in fact allied, as Auguste de St Hilairo 

 affirmed, to Vines, with which they so nearly agree in fructification that if a Berberry 

 had two consolidated carpels and anthers opening longitudinally it would be almost a Vine. 

 While however, the Berberry itself touches the Vine, some plants of its family show a 

 very different tendency, and are so organised as to resemble very nearly the Fumeworts; 

 these are the Sub-order Nandinete, in which Epimedium has all the habit and much of 

 the structure of a Fumaria. Some Botanists fancy that Podophyllum should stand here: 

 but the main distinction between Berberids and Crowfoots consists m the recurved anther- 

 valves of the former, and as Podophyllum has not such valves, it must go to Crowfoots. 

 In the singular structure of their anthers there is a striking analogy with Laurels, Plume 

 Nutmegs (Atherospermace*), and Witch Hazels, Orders not otherwise akin to Berber- 

 ids Caulophyllum thalictroides offers one of the few mstances of seeds being absolutely 

 naked, that is to say, not covered by any integument originating in the pericarp. In 

 this plant the ovary is ruptured at an early stage by the expansion of the ovule, which, 

 havin" been impregnated, continues to grow, and ultimately arrives at maturity, 

 although deprived of its pericarpial covering. The spines of the common Berberry are 

 a curious state of leaf, in which the parenchyma is absorbed, and the ribs are indurated. 

 Thev as well as all the simple leaves of the other species, are articulated with the pe- 

 tiole and are therefore compound leaves reduced to a single leaflet ; wherefore the sup- 

 posed genus Mahonia does not differ essentially from Berbens in fohage any more than 

 in fructification. Berberids are related to Anonads through the genus Bocagea ; and 

 their ovary is described as being sometimes strikingly hke that of Davilla m Ddlemads. 

 Some of the pinnated species of Berberis have stipules. m 



Natives of mountainous places in the temperate parts of the northern hemisphere, 

 and of South America as far as the Straits of Magellan ; none m Africa, Australasia, 

 or the South Sea Islands. They are very common in the northern provinces ot India. 



The berries of Berberis vulgaris and other species are acid and astringent, and form 

 with sugar an agreeable refreshing preserve. Their acid is the oxahc (malic, Royle.) 

 The stem and bark of the Berberry are excessively astringent, and are employed tor 

 that reason by dyers, who also obtain from them a bright yellow colour. Dr Royle has 

 ascertained that the Kvkm vStKop of Dioscorides was a Berberry ; to this day an ex- 

 tract of the root, stem, and branches of Indian Berberries is employed m cases ot ophthal- 

 mia, and it is said with great advantage. The fruits of B. asiatica are dried in the sun 

 like raisins. The somewhat bitter leaves of Epimedium alpinum were formerly regarded 

 as sudorific and alexipharmic ; the same properties are ascribed to the roots ot CauJo- 

 phvllum thalictroides, whose seeds have been employed as a substitute for Cottee. Ihe 

 leaves of Bongardia Chrysogonum are eaten in the East hke Sorrel. The root of Leon- 

 tice Leontopetalum is used at Aleppo as a substitute for soap; and is regarded by the 

 Turks as a corrective of overdoses of Opium. The tubers of Bongardia Rauwolfii are 

 eaten, both boiled and roasted, in Persia. 



GENERA. 



$ 1. BERBER1DK.E. 



Berberis, L. 

 Mahonia, Nutt. 

 Odestema, Raf. 



§ 2. Nandineje. 



Epimedium, L. 

 Nandina, Thunb. 

 Leontice, L. 

 Leontopetalum, Tourn. 



Achlys, DC. 

 Caulophyllum, Michx. 

 Diphylleja, Michx. 

 Jeffersonia, Bart. 



Croomia, Tom-ey. 

 Aceranthus, Morren. 

 Vancouveria, Morren. 

 Bongardia, Meyer. 



Numbers. Gen. 12. Sp. 100. 



Araliacece. 

 Position. — Fumariacese. — Berberidace^e. — Vitacete. 



Ranmculacew. 



A paper on the organogenesis of this order, by M: Payer, will be found in the 

 Ann. Sc. Nat.,ser. 3. XVIII. 246. 



