THE BARBERRY. 



Berberis vulgaris. 



Natural Order — Berberid^. 



Class — Hexanbria. 



Order — Monogynia. 



This pretty shrub grows wild in many parts of 

 England, and is of still more common occurrence 

 in gardens and shrubberies, where it is cultivated 

 for the sake of the pleasing appearance presented 

 by its numerous clusters of yellow flowers, and 

 drooping bunches of scarlet berries. It is indi- 

 genous to most of the countries of Europe and 

 Asia, and is also found in North America, pre- 

 ferring a temperate climate, but also inhabiting 

 warmer regions ; in which latter case it grows at a 

 high elevation in the mountains. 



In its wild state, in England, it appears in the 

 form of a low bushy shrub, but when cultivated. 



leaves are nearly elliptical, smooth, and beautifully 

 fringed at the edge. The flowers consist of a 

 calyx of six unequal leaves, and as many concave 

 yellow petals, in each of which is concealed a 



BLOSSOM OP barberry. 



attains a height of twenty 

 feet or more. The branches 

 are covered with smooth bark 

 of a remarkably light hue, 

 and, with the three-forked 

 thorns, sufiiciently distinguish 

 it from every other shrub, even 

 when it is bare of foliage. The 



