194 Neilgherry Plants. 



IV. BERBERIDE,E.— Barberry. 



This is a small family of finely flowering shrubs, natives of 

 the temperate regions of both the Northern and Southern hemi- 

 spheres. In the Indian Peninsula two species certainly occur, a 

 third is said to be found in the Coorg jungles, but on that point 

 there still seems room for doubt. Both are found on the Neil- 

 gherries, the one here represented being by far the handsomer 

 of the two. Other nine genera are referred to the order, but this 

 is the only one found in Southern India. The peculiar dis- 

 tinguishing mark by which this family is separated from the 

 rest of the vegetable kingdom is the curious anthers, which 

 open like the lid of a snuff-box to give exit to the pollen, 

 combined with a very perfect flower. The cinnamon tribe 

 ( Laurince) have similar anthers, but very incomplete flowers 

 in comparison with those of Berberidea, and are in conse- 

 quence far removed from them in our linear series of natural 

 orders, but, notwithstanding, they have many points in com- 

 mon, showing a closer relationship than might at first sight be 

 suspected — among these are the ternary arrangement of the 

 flowers, the valved anthers, and single superior ovary. 



The filaments of some, if not all the species of this genus 

 are endowed with a peculiar irritability, which causes them 

 when touched at a certain point near the base, to contract 

 elastically and strike the anther against the style, and in that 

 way scatter their pollen on the stigma. This property exists 

 in both the Neilgherry plants. The properties of the wood are 

 mildly astringent and bitter, and in the Upper Provinces an 

 extract is prepared by boiling the wood, which is highly 

 esteemed by the natives on account of its medicinal qualities. 

 In Upper Bengal the fruits of two species are dried like 

 raisins in the sun, and sold as kistmisses in the bazars all 

 over the country. 



BERBERIS.— Barberry. 



Sepals 3-4-6, deciduous, in a double row, accompanied externally 

 with petaloid scales. Petals hypogynous, equal to the sepals in 

 number and opposite to them, or twice as many ; often furnished in 



