1094 



THE NATURE BOOK 



FRUITS OF JUNIPER. 



Some in their first year, others in their 



second year of growth. 



to be found on the shrub at 

 the same time. 



There is a dwarf variety of 

 Juniper, which has shorter and 

 less prickly leaves. This is found 

 chiefly on the mountains of North 

 Wales and of Westmorland, and 

 in Scotland. 



THE BERBERRY 



This shrub, also known as 

 Barberry, is a doubtful native. 

 In a wild state it may be found 

 in hedges, thickets, and open 

 woods. It was much more com- 

 mon formerly than now, having 

 been sedulously uprooted of late 

 years because of the harbourage 

 it gives to the fungus, in one 

 of its life stages, which causes 

 " rust " on wheat. It is an 

 elegant shrub with numerous 



arched branches. In early sum- 

 mer these are adorned with 

 ordered clusters of golden bell- 

 shaped flowers. In the autumn 

 there is a scarcely less beautiful 

 array of brilliantly coloured fruits. 

 It is effectively protected with 

 spines. 



The brown winter twigs are 

 zigzag. At each bend in the 

 zigzag is a blunt brown bud, and 

 immediately beneath the base of 

 the bud are usually three slender, 

 stiff, sharp spines, two of which 

 project to right and left, whilst 

 the third points forward. These 

 are frequently depressed, serving, 

 not onlj' for protection, but to 

 some extent also as grapnels, 

 gi\ing support, Like the prickles 

 of a bramble, when pushing 

 through other vegetation. These 

 spines are modified leaves. The 



FLOWERS OF TAMARISK. 



