84 BERBERIDACE^E. 



Herb of striking appearance, with much the habit of Po- 

 dophyllum : the thickened and creeping rhizoma formed of 

 distinct annual increments, sending up a stout alternately 

 two-leaved flowering stem (terminated by a cyme of white 

 blossoms), which separates at the base in autumn by a 

 marked articulation, leaving a broad excavated scar, in the 

 manner of the rootstocks of a Solomon's Seal. Leaves very 

 large (1 to 2 feet broad when full grown), thin, palmately 

 veined, reticulated, of dilated reniform or orbicular circum- 

 scription, deeply two-cleft, and the margins cut-lobed and 

 toothed ; the cauline excentrically, the radical centrally, pel- 

 tate on long and stout petioles. Berries blue, glaucous. 



Etymology. From Sir, twice, or double, and divXkov, leaf. 



Properties. Unknown: probably much like those of Podophyllum. 



Geographical Distribution. Restricted to shaded springy places, or 

 the margin of mountain brooks, in rich and deep alluvial soil, along the Al- 

 leghanies from Virginia to Georgia. It (lowers in May, while the leaves 

 are yet but half grown. 



PLATE 33. Diphylleia cvmosa, Michx. ; — flowering stem and rhizo- 

 ma, from plants cultivated in the Botanic Garden, Cambridge, and 

 dried specimens, from the mountains of North Carolina : lower 

 leaf cut away, the upper thrown back and reduced in size. 

 1. A magnified stamen, with the anther dehiscent ; outside view. 

 •2. A similar stamen, seen from the inner side. 



3. A magnified pistil. 



4. A vertical section of the same, .showing the ovules. 



5. An ovule, more magnified. 



6. Transverse section of the ovary made towards the base. 



7. A berry ; and 8, a vertical section of the same, showing the seeds, 

 it. A seed, magnified ; lateral view. 



10. Vertical section of the same, displaying the embryo, &c. 



