IX. LAEDIZABALE^]. 205 



PEINCIPAL GENERA. 



Berberidopsis. Berberis. *Mahonia. *Leontice. *Nandina. 



Caulophyllum. Vancouveria. *Epi medium. Aceranthus. Diphylleia. 



Jeffersonia. * Podophyllum. Achlys. 



Berberidece are closely allied to Lardizabalece (see that order) ; the genus JBerberidopm, of which the 

 1-celled ovary, with three parietal placentas, is an exception to the normal Berberidettj establishes the 

 passage of these to Lardizabulea, through the genus Decaisnea, of which the carpels with two series of 

 ovules gape when ripe. Berberidece also approach Magnoliacecc in their hypopetalism, the distinct several- 

 seriate sepals, the adnate anthers, albuminous seed, straight embryo, woody stem, and alternate leaves 

 with caducous stipules ; but Magnoliacece differ in their habit, scented wood, polyandry, and the number 

 and mode of dehiscence of their carpels. Berberidece resemble Ranunculacece (see this order), and slightly 

 Papaverace<e, which differ in habit, milky juice, terminal inflorescence, polyandry, introrse anthers, and 

 the structure of the fruit and seed. Berberidece have also some analogies with Anonacece, founded on the 

 ternary arrangement of the flower, the free sepals, hypogynous 2-seriate petals, isostemony (Bocagea) , 

 adnate anthers, thick capitate and often sessile stigma, the erect anatropous ovules, and berried fruit ; 

 but Anonacece are distinguished by their habit, their distichous entire often climbing stem, terminal 

 usually polyandrous flowers, the ternary carpels, and ruminate albumen. 



Berberidece grow in the temperate regions of the northern hemisphere, the Andes, and extra-tropical 

 South America. They are absent from tropical and South Africa, Australia and New Zealand. 



The berries and herbaceous parts of Berberidece contain free malic acid ; the root and bark of several 

 species yield a yellow bitter extractive (berberine) possessing properties analogous to those of rhubarb. 

 This is especially the case with the common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris), a shrub which grows on calcareous 

 soils in Europe and Northern Asia; the tincture yielded by the bark cf its root and stem is purgative, and its 

 yellow colour induced doctors formerly to administer it for jaundice; its acid berries form a veiy pleasant 

 preserve, and the young acid astringent leaves are used to strengthen the gums. B. faseicularis (Mahonid) 

 is esteemed in California for its mildly acid berries. The wood of the Indian and South American 

 Berberis is used as a dye. \_B. Lycium, the Lycium indicum of Dioscorides, is used to this day in India 

 for ophthalmia. ED.] The root of Caulophyllum thalictroides is valued as a sudorific in North America, 

 and its seeds form a substitute for coffee. Bongardia Chrysogonum grows in Greece and the East ; its 

 leaves are eaten like those of sorrel ; its root was formerly considered an alexifer. The powdered root of 

 Leontice Leontopetahim, a plant of Asia Minor, is used at Aleppo as a soap for cleaning stuffs ; the Turks 

 also use it as a corrective for an overdose of opium. Podophyllum peltatum, from North America, connects 

 Berberidea with Papaveracece ; its herbaceous parts are narcotic and poisonous ; its root contains a bitter 

 gum-resin, which purges as effectively as jalap; its berries are very acid, but may be eaten with 

 impunity, as may those of P. himalai/ense [which are insipid. ED.]. 



IX. LARDIZABALE^ Br. 



(MENISPERMACEARUM tribus, D.C. BERBERIDEARUM tribus, Benth. et Hook. //.) 



Twining, or rarely erect SHRUBS (Decaisnea), branches striate. LEAVES alternate, 

 compound, 2-3-ternate (Lardizabala), or 3 5-foliolate (Boquila, Parvatia], or pinnate 

 (Decaisnea), or digitate (AJcebia, Holboellia) ; leaflets toothed or sinuate, petioles and 

 petiolules swollen at the base and top, exstipulate. FLOWERS diclinous or poly- 

 gamous, in solitary or fascicled axillary racemes, naked or bracteolate. FLOWERS $ : 

 CALYX coloured, 6-phyllous, 2-seriate, or rarely 3-phyllous (Akebia), aestivation im- 

 bricate, the outer sepals often valvate. PETALS 6, inserted on the receptacle, much 

 smaller than the sepals, or 0. STAMENS 6, inserted on the receptacle, opposite to 



