136 CLASS VI. ORDER I. 



147. BERBERIS. 

 Berberis vulgaris. L. Barberry hush. 



Flowers in racemes; spines three forked; serratnrcs 

 of leaves terminated by soft bristles. Sm. 



Few shrubs are better known or more common by road sides 

 and fences, in gravelly soils. Branches dotted and armed with 

 triple thorns. Leaves inversely ovate, serrate, the teeih and 

 point ending in short bristles. The yellow flowers appear in 

 June in hanging clusters; succeeded by oblong, acid berries of a 

 deep red color. — This plant agrees almost precisely with the 

 European. 



A very remarkable degree of irritability, not exceeded by the 

 sensitive plant, exists in the flowers of the Barberry. When 

 these are fully expanded, the stamens are found spread out on 

 the inner side of the corolla. In this situation, if the inside of 

 the filament be touched with a pin or straw, it instantly contracts 

 and throws the anther violently against the stigma. This fact, 

 which has been particularly described by Dr. Smith in the Eng- 

 lish Barberry, is not less remarkable and distinct in the Ameri- 

 can variety of the shrub. 



It is a commonly received opinion, both here and in Europe, 

 that the barberry is injurious to cultivated grain. Wheat, rye, 

 &c., growing in its neighborhood, are said to be blighted. But 

 some distinguished philosophic agriculturists, among whom 

 are Duhamel and Broussonet, have assured us that ihe opinion 

 is without foundation. May not the supposed fault belong to 

 the peculiar soil and situation which the barberry frequents ? 



148. PRINOS. 



Prinos Verticillatus. Black Alder. 



American Medical Botany, PI. Ivi. 



Leaves deciduous, oval, serrate, acuminate, slightly 

 pubescent beneath ; flowers axillary, aggregate. 



This shrub is irregular in its growth, but most commonly 

 forms branches six or eight feet in height.. Leaves alternate or 

 scattered, on short petioles, oval orobovate, acute at base, sharply 

 serrate, acuminate, with some hairiness, particularly ou the veins 



