BEBBEBIBAGEM 69 



which, planted in the most uncultivated spots, may produce an abun- 

 dance of berries ; these may when fermented give 8 per cent, of 

 alcohol, while the roasted seeds are said to be a good substitute for 

 coffee. The root and bark of most of the species of Berberis are 

 prized for dyeing and for the preparation of morocco. The spiny 

 species, whose leaves are eaten by cattle, while the young shoots are 

 fit for human food, grow easily in arid and chalky soils where hardly 

 any other shrub will prosper, and they make excellent hedges. 

 Unfortunately there can be no doubt of their bad influence on 

 cereals ; subject to the attacks of the fungus, JEcidium Berberidis, 

 the Berberries may communicate one form thereof to our most 

 useful grasses. 



The Podophyllum* have also edible berries, termed May-apple and 

 Mandrake in the United States. 1 The stock of P. peltalunr is an 

 evacuant, a drastic purge of pretty rapid effect. A resin extracted 

 therefrom by alcohol, improperly named podophylline, serves the same 

 end. Jeffersonia diphylld? is also used in medicine in the United 

 States ; its blackish rhizome is purgative, prescribed in rheumatism 

 and syphilis. The uses of Leontice are different. The Mediterra- 

 nean species, L. Leontopetalum, 4 is used in itch in the East. It was 

 formerly recommended in neuralgia and snake bites. The natives 

 call it Moiade, and its soapy stock, called Ischar or Levant-Soapwort 

 {Sapo?iaire du Levant), is said to be used to clean woollens and cash- 

 meres. L. Cliri/sot/ouuur has also a soapy mucilaginous root; it is 

 perhaps to be considered the Leontice of Dioscorides. Its leaves are 

 edible, prized as a vegetable by the Arabs. L. thalictroides, 6 from 

 North America, is valued by the Indians. Its root is considered a 



1 The fruit of P. peltaium, whereof P. mania- 4 L., Spec, 448. — Lame., Diet., Hi. 465; 



nwmUL&BTS., and callicarpum Rajput, are probably 111., t. 254, fig. 1. — DC, Prodr., i. 109, n. 2. — 



mere forms. P. hexandrum Royle (P. Emodi II. Bar., in Diet. Encycl. des Sc. Med., ser. 2, ii. 



W \ll.), of the Himalayas, is also prized for its 159. 

 berries. Its leaves are said to be poisonous. 5 L., Spec., 447. — DC, Prodr., n. 1. — Ckry- 



- L., Spec., 722. — Baet., Mat. Med., ii. t. sogonum Dioscoridis llxvw., It., 119. — Bon- 



25. — Bigel., Med. Bot., ii. t. 23. — Peeeiea, gardia Chrysogotmm Spach, III. PI. Or., iv. t. 



Mem. Mat. Med., ed. 4, ii. p. ii. 701. — Lindi., 396.— H. Bn., in Diet. Encycl. des Sc. Med., x. 



-FY. Med., 13. — Guib., op. cit., 724.— Rosenth., 66. — B. JRamvolfii C. A. Met., Envm. PI. Cauc., 



op. cit., 620. 174. — B. Olivieri C A. Mey., loc. cit. 



3 Pees., Syn.. i. 418.— DC, Prodr., i. 111.— 6 L., Spec, 448.— DC, Prodr., n. 5.— Caulo- 



Sims, in Bot. Mag., t. 1513. — Guib., op. cit., pTvylhm thalictroides Michx., Fl. Bor. Amer., 



724. — Rosexth., op. cit., 620. — J. Bartonis i. 205, t. 21. — Rosenth., Syn. PI. Diaphor., 



Michx. — Podophyllum diphyllum L. (See pp. 621. — Guib., op. cit., 724. — Bentley, in Pharm. 



58, 59, figs. 70, 71.) Journ., iv. 52. 



