BARBERRY FAMILY 91 



2. A. alba Miller. Baneberky. Stem erect, smooth or nearly so, 

 18-24 ill. high. Leaves large and spreading; leaflets thin. Racemes 

 very broad. Petals slender, truncate. Pedicels red, thickened in 



34. BERBERIDACE^. Bar berry Family 



Herbs or shrubs. Leaves alternate, simple or compound, 

 usually without stipules. Sepals petal-like. Petals liypogy- 

 nous, distinct, their number some multij)le of 2, 3, or 4, never 

 of 5. Stamens usually one opposite each petal ; anthers com- 

 monly opening by 2 uplifted lids (the stamens of Podopltylhim 

 are exceptional). Pistil 1, 1-celled ; ovules 2 or more. Fruit a 



berry or capsule. 



I. PODOPHYLLUM L. 



Perennial. Stem simple, smooth, erect, 12-15 in. tall, bear- 

 ing 2 leaves with a large white flower between them. Sepals 

 6, falling off as the flower opens. Petals 6-9, obovate. Sta- 

 mens twice as many as the petals ; anthers splitting open 

 lengthwise. Pistil 1 ; stigma large, flat, sessile. Fruit berry- 

 like, 1-celled, many-seeded.* 



1. P. peltatum L. May Apple. Rootstock rather large. Leaves 

 orbicular, shield-shaped, .5-9-lobed and toothed, smooth, 9-12 in. 

 wide. Flowers 1-2 in. wide, on a peduncle 1-2 in. long. Stamens 

 prominent; anthers opening longitudinally. Fruit l|-2 in. long, 

 oval, fragrant, edible ; each seed surrounded by a pulpy covering. 

 In rich woods. The roots and leaves are used in medicine.* 



IL CAULOPHYLLUM Miehx. 



A perennial smooth herb, 1-2^^ ft. high. Leaf large, single, 

 sessile, thrice compound in threes, borne high up on the stem ; 

 there is also a large, very compound basal leaf. Flowers 

 racemed or panicled, yellowish-green. Sepals 6, with 3 bract- 

 lets. Petals 6, gland-like, somewhat curved inward at the tip, 

 much smaller than the sepals. Pistil 2-ovuled, the ovary soon 

 bursting open and leaving the 2 blue seeds to ripen naked. 



1. C. thalictroides Michx. Blue Cohosh, Pappoose Root. Whole 

 plant purplish and covered with a bloom when young. Flowers 

 appearing before the leaf is fully develoi)ed. Rich woods. 



