THE BARBERRY TRIBE. 13 



by a flattish, round, sessile stigma, in the centre of 

 which is a small opening that communicates with the 

 single cell (jiy. 5.) that the ovary contains. From 

 the bottom of the cell, but rather obliquely, there 

 arise two ovules (jig. 5.). 



In time the ovary changes to an oblong acid scarlet 

 fleshy berry (fig. 6.), containing one or two seeds (fig. 

 7-). The seeds have a tough skin, and enclose a 

 slender embryo (fig. 8.), standing erect in the midst 

 of hard albumen. 



In this plant you will at once perceive several cir- 

 cumstances that you have not previously seen. In 

 the first place its stamens are the same number as the 

 petals, and opposite to them ; and secondly their 

 anthers open by recurved valves. These two points 

 taken together, limit the Barberry Tribe, which con- 

 tains the beautiful evergreen Ash-leaved species, or 

 Mahonias, of which Berberis aquifolium or the Holly- 

 leaved is so striking an instance, and also the singular 

 brown-flowered Epimedium, whose small unattractive 

 blossoms just raise themselves upon their thread- 

 shaped stalks, and peep forth from the leaves which 

 half shroud and half reveal them. 



In the flower of the Barberry is a curious instance 

 of irritability. The stamens are in a recumbent 

 position when the flowers first open, lying back close- 

 pressed upon the petals. But if you touch one of 

 their filaments with a pin, the stamen gently rises up 

 and strikes its anther against the stigma, just as the 

 figures in old-fashioned clocks strike their hammers 

 upon the bells when chimes are sounded. No one 



