265 



THE BAEBEREY. 



Berberis vulgaris. 



Natural 0;-f?er— Bekberide^. 



CTass— Hexandria. Order — Monogynia. 



This pretty shrub grows wild in many parts of England, 

 and is of still more common occurrence in gardens and 

 shrubberies, where it is cultivated for the sake of the 

 pleasing appearance presented by its numerous clusters 

 of yellow flowers and drooping bunches of scarlet berries. 

 It is indigenous to most of the countries of Europe and 

 Asia, and is also found in ISTorth America, preferring a 

 temperate climate, but also inhabiting warmer regions : 

 in which latter case it grows at a high elevation in the 

 mountains. 



In its wild state, in England, it appears in the form of 

 a low bushy shrub ; but, when cultivated, attains a height 

 of twenty feet or more. The branches are covered with 

 smooth bark of a remarkably light hue, 

 and, with the three-forked thorns, sufti- --^ ~f 



ciently distinguish it from every other ^y 



shrub, even when it is bare of foliage. 

 The leaves are nearly elliptical, smooth, 

 and beautifully fringed at the edge. The 



, „ . BLOSSOM OF BARBERRY 



flowers consist of a calyx of six unequal 

 leaves, and as many concave yellow petals, in each of 

 which is concealed a stamen with a flattened filament. 

 The flowers last only a short time, during which they are 

 sho"\vy, but emit a very unpleasant odour. !N"ear the Ijase 

 of each filament is a small spot, which possesses a high 

 degree of irritability. If this be touched by any small 

 body while the bloom is in perfection, the stamen suddenly 

 bends forward and closes on the pistil, and, if allowed 

 to remain for a few hours, gradually returns to its original 

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