BERBERIDACEAE. — BERBERIS 373 



nodia 1-2 cm. longa; spinae plerumque simplices, versus apicem ramulorum 

 floriferorum breves, sed variabiles, intordum ad 3 cm. longae, rigidae, applanatae, 

 flavescentes, subtus leviter sulcatae. Folia ad 8 fasciculata, in eodem fascicule 

 valde inaequalia, spathulata v. oblanceolata, tenuia, apice obtusa, tantum mu- 

 cronulata, raro acuta, basim versus in petiolum brevem decurrentia v. sessilia, 

 fere semper integerrima, supra viridia, laxe reticulata, subtus vix pallidiora, pari 

 modo reticulata, minima 8:3 mm., majora ad 2.5:0.8 cm., maxima ad 4:1.2 cm. 

 magna, haec interdum spinoso-denticulata, dentibus utrinque 6-8. Inflorescen- 

 tiae densiflorae, graciles, pedunculo nudo 0.5-1 cm. longo incluso 1.5-4 cm. longae, 

 nutantes, glabrae; flores lutei, minimi (circiter 3-4 mm. diam.); pedicelli 2-3 mm. 

 longi, basi bracteis acuminatis aequilongis v. subaequilongis instructi; prophylla 

 minuta lanceolata; sepala ovata, obtusa; petala oblonga, subacuta v. apice incisa, 

 eepalis aequilonga v. sublongiora, basi normaliter glandulifera; stamina normalia, 

 petalis duplo minora; ovaria staminibus aequilonga, ovulis 2 (v. interdum 1 ?) 

 sessilibus instructa, estylosa. Fructus ut videtur rubri, globosi, (circiter 4-5 mm. 

 diam.); tantum unum vidi. 



West Kansu: Min-chou, alt. 3200-3600 m., W. Purdom. 



This species differs from B. Poiretii Schneider and its varieties by its stronger 

 simple spines, by its very small flowers and fruits and by its two-ovuled ovaries. 

 It seems most closely related to B. Purdomii Schneider, of which I have only seen 

 branches bearing very young flowers with all the leaves serrate. Berberis Vernae 

 possibly may belong to the section Integerrimae. 



The species is named in compliment to Miss Vema Berger of La Mortola. 



There is another remarkable, but incomplete specimen from Weichang among 

 Purdom's collection (without No., Chinese collectors). It bears very young in- 

 florescences and the axes of some old ones. The specimen is very peculiar. The 

 branches are apparently from an old shrub; the leaves are entire, narrowly spatu- 

 late and up to 4 cm. long and 8 mm. broad; the racemes are borne on naked pedun- 

 cles up to 2 cm. long, they show a tendency to become paniculate in their lower 

 part and the lowest flower of each raceme is subtended by a leaf, a feature I have 

 never observed so far; the old inflorescences are about 8 cm. long. It seems to 

 be a new species which at present cannot be exactly determined; I hardly believe 

 that it is a monstrosity. 



Berberis Lecomtei Schneider, n. sp. 



Berberis sinensis, var. typica Franchet, PI. Delavay. 35 (1889). 

 Berberis Thunbergii, var. glabra Franchet, 1. c. 



Frutex ad 2-metralis; ramuli annotini et biennes purpurascentes, glabri, angu- 

 lati, vetustiores cinereo-brunnescentes v. cinerascentes; intemodia 1.3-2.6 cm. 

 longa; spinae 1-3-fidae, graciles, flavo-brunneae, mediae ad 1.8 cm. longae. Folia ad 

 6 fasciculata, tenuiter membranacea, oblanceolata v. lanceolata, apice obtusa, 

 Bed mucronulata, basim versus in petiolum 2-5 mm. longum sensim attenuata, 

 integerrima, supra viridia, subtus cinereo-pruinosa (v. leviter virescentia?), 

 utrinque tantum costa nervisque latcralibus laxe subrcticulata, 1.3:0.4 cm. ad 

 3.2:0.8 cm. magna. Inflorescentiae breves fasciculato-racemosae v. elongatae 

 umbellato-racemosae, cum pedunculis ad 1-2 cm. longis ad 4 cm. longae, glabrae, 

 (3-)6-10-florae; flores flavi, satis parvi (circiter 6-8 mm. diam.); pedicelli graciles, 

 0.8-1.3 cm. longi; basi bracteis breviter acuminatis, 1 mm. longis suffulti; pro- 

 phylla ovato-lanceolata, acuta; sepala exteriora late ovata sepalis interioribus late 

 ovatis V. obovatis fere duplo minora; petala sepalis interioribus aequilonga v. fere 

 longiora, obovata, apice ut videtur incisa, basi breviter unguiculata, glandulis 



