Beautiful Flowering Shrubs 



each also with a stiffened point. Sometimes, half-way 

 down the margin, is yet another pair of sharpened 

 spurs. The leaves are grouped together in threes, and 

 set thickly upon the branches. From each group 

 hangs a little brilliant flower cluster, whose vivid 

 scheme of colouring extends even to tinging the 

 flower-stalks with a rich red. 



The whole bell-shaped flower, too, is one mass of 

 colour undiluted by green. Its structure (as apart from 

 colouring) is that common to all Barberries, and the 

 following description also applies to the two species 

 already mentioned. The eight or nine distinct sepals, 

 which vary in size, as well as the six separate petals, 

 are a brilliant orange, with a suggestion of red on the 

 outermost sepals' backs. The petals are markedly con- 

 cave, and on the inner side of every one are two yellow 

 cushions, which contain abundant honey. When we 

 come to the six stamens we come to the part of 

 greatest interest in the whole plant, for they are most 

 remarkable, sensitive organs, which can " feel " a touch 

 and respond to it with a quick movement. Each has 

 a particularly interesting structure. Its yellow filament 

 is carried up between the two pollen cases, separating 

 them. A third of the way down are two little pro- 

 jections, like arm stumps. The pollen cases are closed 

 by oval flaps on their outer side, which open like 

 trap-doors when the pollen is mature and the weather 



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