64 



DESCRIPTIONS OF THE SHRUBS 



Asimina. The PAPAWS, as the name is used in America, are shrubs 

 or small trees with large smooth alternate entire-edged leaves, and large- 

 seeded pulpy fruit. The large purple or whitish flowers are solitary and 

 axillary, appearing with or before the leaves expand in spring. The 

 tl.iwers consist of three calyx pieces, six petals, and numerous stamens. 

 There are two species in cultivation. One, a shrubby tree 10 to 40 feet, 



FIG. 19. Bearded Barberry. 



FIG. 20. Mahonia. 



high, hardy in Massachusetts, with leaves 6 to 12 inches long, and edible 

 fruit, 2 to 6 inches long, of a brown color when ripe in October. COM- 

 MON or NORTH AMERICAN PAPAW (11) Asimina trfloba. The other is 

 a shrub 2 to 6 feet high, hardy only South, with leaves 2 to 4 inches 

 long and cream-colored flowers having petals 2 inches long, FETID SHRUH 

 Asimina grandifl6ra. (The Papaws of the books are milky-juiced 

 small tropic trees of palm-like habit with variously lobed leaves, belong- 

 ing to the passion flower family.) [Seeds ; layers ; root cuttings.] 



Berberis. The BARBERRIES are popular, hardy, usually thorny shrubs, 

 having yellow- to orange-colored flowers, and white, yellow, red to black 

 berries with 1 to several seeds. The leaves are generally arranged in close 

 clusters above the 1-3-pointed thorns. The barberries with compound 

 leaves are here, as in the nurseries, called MAHONIAS. The species are so 

 numerous (over 50), with many hybrids and varieties, that the average 

 reader will be satisfied to distinguish only the few in general cultivation. 

 JAPAXESK BARHERRY (12) Berberis Thunbe'rgii, is a 



