BARBERRY*. 43 



of six ovate, concave, obtuse leaves, three of them alternately 

 smaller, and is furnished with three bracteae at the base. The 

 corolla is composed of six concave rounded petals, of a bright 

 yellow coloui'j with two glands at the base of each. The sta- 

 mens * are six in number, opposite the petals^ and tipped with 

 bifid anthers. The germen is simple, cylindrical, and termi- 

 nated by a large, sessile, depressed stigma. The fruit is an 

 ovoid, cylindrical berry, a little curved, bright red, tipped with 

 the black style, and containing two oblong seeds. Plate II., 

 fig. 3. (a) cluster of fruit ; (6) corolla and stamens ; (c) calyx 

 and pistil ; (c?) berry cut lengthwise to show the seeds. 



The Barberry is a hardy shrub, growing in nearly all tem- 

 perate climates. It is found in woods and hedges in many parts 

 of England and Scotland, and near Fiermoy in Ireland. It 

 flowers in June. 



The name is said by Theis to have been bo;rrowed by the Ro- 

 mans from the Arabic word Berberys. It is called provincially, 

 Pipperidge-bush. 



Qualities and general Uses. — The juice of the fruit is 

 austere and very acid ; it stains blue paper of a deep red co- 

 lour : its acid is the oxalic. The roots boiled in a ley yield a 

 yellow colour, which is used to dye wool, cotton, and flax, and 

 is also employed by cabinet-makers and curriers ; the inner bark 

 of the stem, with the assistance of alum, aflfords a yellow dye. 

 The leaves are grateWly acid ; they are said to be eaten by 

 kine, goats, and sheep, but refused by horses and swine. The 

 flowers emit an unpleasant smell when near, but at a moderate 

 distance their odour is very agreeable. The ripe fruit forms a 

 well known preserve. The unripe berries may be pickled in th.e 

 same manner as capers. 



The Barberry is an object of dislike to the farmer, on account of its re- 

 puted baneful effect upon corn. Dr. Withering says, " this shrub should 

 never be permitted to grow in corn lands, for the ears of wheat that grow 

 near it never fill, and its influence in this respect has been known to extend 

 as far as three or four hundred yards across a field." Nevertheless, this as- 

 sertion has met with many strenuous ojtpouents. Sir J. Banks supposes, 



• The stamens exhibit a remarkable degree of irritabihty. When touched 

 at the base by the point of an instrument, they rapidly approach the pistil, 

 and if the anthers are fully ripe, the pollen is exploded. When put into 

 water or solution of gum, the flowers may be preserved for several days, 

 possessing their irj-itability. 



