BERBERIDACE2E. 73 



8. Berberidopsis Hook. f. — Flowers hermaphrodite ; leaves of 

 perianth 9-15, petaloid, unequal imbricate larger from without in- 

 wards. Stamens 6-10; filaments free, very short, inserted above a 

 rather prominent ring of receptacle ; anthers basifixed erect 2-celled 

 subintrorse rimose. Germen free, 1 -celled, tapering into a short trun- 

 cate 3-radiate stigmatiferous style ; placentas 3, parietal ; ovules co , 

 anatropous. Fruit . . . ? — A shrub, subsarmentose evergreen ; 

 leaves alternate simple petiolate exstipulate, coarsely dentate; flowers 

 in terminal or subumbelliform drooping racemes ; bracts to each 

 flower; pedicels 2-bracteolate at base {Chili). See p. 49. 



III. BERBERIDE^E. 



9. Berberis L. — Flowers 3-merous; leaves of petaloid calyx 6-12, 

 2-4-seriate, larger from without inwards (outer small, bract-like), 

 imbricate. Petals 6, 2-seriate, often subsimilar to sepals, usually 

 2-glandular within at base imbricate. Stamens 6, 2-seriate, fila- 

 ments free, articulate at base ; anthers basifixed 2-celled introrse 

 2-rimose ; outer wall of each cell eventually dehiscing by upraised 

 valve. Carpel 1 ; style short ; apex peltate, stigmatose. Germen 

 1-locular; ovules usually few, inserted near base or more or less 

 obliquely on wall of placenta, ascending anatropous ; micropyle 

 extrorse inferior. Berry indehiscent. Seeds usually few ; albumen 

 fleshy; embryo rather large. — Shrubs; leaves alternate simple 

 (1-foliolate) and penninerved or pinnate; each pinnule articulated to 

 midrib, usually spinose-dentate or transformed into simple or much 

 divided spines ; flowers in racemes or solitary or in pairs, termi- 

 nating the yearly shoots or lateral leaf}' fascicles {Europe, Asia, 

 Tropical America). See p. 49. 



10. Leontice L. — Sepals 6-9, petaloid; outer ones smaller; im- 

 bricate in aestivation. Petals 6, much smaller, like nectaries, trun- 

 cate or dilated-hooded at apex {Caulopliylluvi), more rarely subsimilar 

 to sepals {Bongardia). Stamens 6, free ; anthers muticous dehiscing 

 by 2 upraised valves. Carpel 1 ; ovules 2 or 4-8 inserted on basilar 

 or sublateral placenta, ascending anatropous. Capsule membranous 

 or bladder-like, indehiscent or gaping at apex even before maturity 

 {Gynmospermium), or more rarely evanescent {Caulophylluni). Seeds 



