424 GARDEN PLANTS. TART II. 



BERBERIDACE2E. 

 Nandina. 



N. domestica. SACRED BAMBOO OF CHINA. A very handsome 

 shrub, from five to six feet high, with light and airy bipinnate 

 foliage of small, narrow, inyrtle-like leaflets. Mr. Fortune says 

 that 



" In China in the month of January large quantities of its 

 branches are hawked about the streets ; each of the branches is 

 covered with a large bunch of red berries, not very unlike those of 

 the common Holly, and when contrasted with the dark shining 

 leaves are singularly ornamental."* 



Large plants have been for many years in the Calcutta Bota- 

 nical Gardens, and thrive well there, but never, as far as I can 

 learn, blossom. In March of the year 1862, however, I observed 

 a solitary small plant in the Gardens of the Agri-Horticultural 

 Society bearing a few flowers. The flowers, borne in panicles, 

 are of a dull white colour, with yellow anthers, and of little 

 interest. 



Berberis. 



BERBERRY. 



A rather numerous genus, several species of which are regarded 

 as highly ornamental in English gardens. The four or five 

 that can grow in the plains of India are not objects of much 

 beauty. 



I.E. Asiatica. A middle-sized shrub, with thorny stems and 

 leaves, in general aspect of a pale ashy green. London describes 

 it thus : " The flowers are yellow and beautiful, berries purplish 

 with a fine bloom, and decaying leaves yellow and red," 



2. B. aristata, var. floribunda. Very similar in general appear- 

 ance to the last. 



3. Fortuniana. A deep-green smooth bash, native of China, 

 introduced by Mr. Fortune. Leaves pinnate, with three to four 

 pairs of leaflets and an odd terminal one. Bears pretty racemes 

 of small, bright-yellow flowers in the Kains, agreeably relieved by 

 the dark-green foliage of narrow, lanceolate, saw-edged leaflets. 

 No doubt an exceedingly beautiful plant grown in a climate that 

 suits it. 



* ' Tea District?,' p. 122. 



