XII. 



BERBERIS VULGARIS. 

 Common Barberry. 



Class VI. Hexandria. — Order I. Monogynia. 



Nat. Ord. Berberide^. 



Gen. Char. Calyx of six concave leaves, coloured, in- 

 ferior, deciduous. Petals six, each with two glands at 

 the base. Berry one-celled, two to three seeded. 



Spec. Char. Racemes pendulous. Spines three-forked. 

 Leaves simple, obovate, ciliate-seiTate. 



SYNONYMES. 



Greek .... * «|u««»^a. Galen. 



r Spina acida sive Oxyacantha. Gerard Em. 1 144. 

 Latin ■< Berberis dumetorum. Bauhin Pinax, 454. Raii Spn. 465. 



' Berberis vulgaris. Lin. Sp. PI. 471. 

 French .... Berberis ; Epine-vinette ; Vinettier. 

 Italian .... Berberi ; Berbero ; Crespino ; Trispina. 

 Spanish.... Berbero; Berberis. 

 German..,. Berberstrauch ; Sauerdorn ; Saurach ; Berberis. 



Dutch Berberis; Barbarisse; Zuurdoorn. 



Swedish.... Berberis. 

 Arabic Berberys. 



Description. — The root is woody, creeping, branched, and of 

 a yellowish brown colour. The stems are erect, and attain the 

 height of six or eight feet ; the branches are diffuse, covered 

 with a smooth greyish bark, and furnished at each joint with 

 acute spines, generally three in number. The leaves are arranged 

 four or five together on the branches ; they are inversely ovate, 

 ciliato-serrate, smooth. The flowers spring from the axils of the 

 leaves in simple, pendulous, elongated racemes. The calyx is 

 inferior, deciduous, and of a greenish yellow colour, consisting 



