97 
Statistics of the Orders Berberidacexe, Nympheeaceze, Papaveracere, 
and Fumariacee, with the duration, periodicity, habitats, and 
range (both horizontal and vertical) of the British Species. 
The European plants of the first-mentioned order are but few, 
and the American and Asiatic species are not numerous. Great 
Britain is reputed to produce two out of the three European spe- 
cies. Hurope possesses six plants of the Water-lily family, and 
Great Britain three. If Dr. Lindley’s estimate, viz. that “ two- 
thirds of the Papaveracee belong to Europe,” the whole number 
of species known is under thirty, and upwards of one-third are 
found in England. The Fumariacee are neither important in 
numbers nor in economical uses. Hurope produces between 
twenty and thirty species, and Great Britain somewhat fewer than 
half as many. Something more precise can be advanced in re- 
ference to the accidents or conditions of the British species of 
these four small orders. The two representatives of Berberidacee, 
viz. Berberis vulgaris and Epimedium alpinum, if the latter be 
really a spontaneous production of England, are perhaps a fair 
proportion of the order, or as many species as could be expected 
in a limited area such as our country possesses. The com- 
mon Barberry is confined to hedges or shrubberies, and is far 
from being abundant in the former habitats. It does not extend 
far into Scotland, and is said to be scarcely wild in the West of 
England. It may be presumed, that although its origin be acci- 
dental, yet it is established, and in all probability will be as per- . 
manent as many of our ligneous species whose nativity is un- 
challenged. It is not planted in hedges; for as a hedge plant it 
is worthless. There is also a prejudice against it, as rust in wheat 
is popularly ascribed to its malignant influence. Kpimedium al- 
pinum is frequently met with im gardens, and probably in some 
situations it might maintain its hold on the ground. The influ- 
ence of these plants on the general aspect of the country is most 
meonsiderable, and neither of them would be missed were they 
to disappear, except by the botanist and the nurseryman. They 
flower before midsummer, and are perennials. 
The Water-lily family, though containing but a few species, makes 
up for that in the number of individual plants, and especially in 
the magnitude and beauty both of their foliage and their flowers. 
These plants occupy deep rivers and other large pieces of still 
N.S. VOL. 1. ) 
