92 KEY AND FLORA 
III. BERBERIS L. 
Spiny shrubs with yellow wood. Leaves spinous-toothed, 
jointed on the very short petiole, often reduced to 3-7-cleft 
spines. Flowers in racemes, solitary or in pairs. Sepals 8-9, the 
outer minute. Petals 6, each with 2 nectar glands at the base. 
Stamens 6. Ovules few. Berry 1-2-seeded ; seeds bony-coated. 
1. B. vulgaris L. Common Barsperry. A shrub 4-6 ft. high. 
Leaves obovate, spinous-serrate; those on the old shoots mere 
spines. Flowers pale yellow, in drooping racemes. Stamens irritable, 
closing quickly toward the center of the flower when touched. Berry 
4 in. long, nearly ellipsoidal in shape, scarlet or orange-scarlet, very 
acid, eatable when cooked. Cultivated from Europe and introduced 
in eastern New England and locally in the upper Mississippi Valley. 
2. B. Thunbergii DC. A low shrub. Leaves entire, turning red 
and remaining so for a considerable time in autumn. Flowers 
solitary or in pairs. Berries bright red, remaining on the branches 
all winter. Cultivated from Japan. 
35. MAGNOLIACEA. MacGnoria FamMity 
Trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, not toothed or serrate. 
Flowers solitary, large and showy. Floral envelopes and sta- 
mens hypogynous. Calyx and corolla colored alike, the parts of 
the perianth forming 3 or more circles of 3 parts each. Stamens 
many. Carpels many, usually joined over the long receptacle 
and forming a sort of cone-shaped fruit, which may be either 
fleshy or dry. 
I. MAGNOLIA L. 
Aromatic trees or shrubs. Leaves alternate, often in clusters 
at the ends of the branches, entire, usually thick and leathery ; 
stipules large, quickly deciduous. Flowers terminal, showy, 
bisexual. Sepals 38, caducous. Petals 6-12, in 2-4 rows, con- 
cave. Stamens numerous. Ovaries numerous, 1-celled, 2-seeded, 
the mature follicles opening at the beak and the fleshy seeds 
remaining for some time suspended by slender threads.* 
1. M. virginiana L. Swerr Bay. <A small tree with light gray 
bark. Leaves scattered on the branches, evergreen, thick and 
leathery, oval or oblong, smooth and green above, white and with 
