310 



ARBORETUM AND PRUTICETUM. 



T'ART III. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaves in 4 pairs of 

 leaflets with an odd one, the low- 

 er pairdistant from the base of the 

 petiole ; leaflets ovate, approxi- 

 mate, cordate at the base, one- 

 nerved, spiny-toothed, with 9 or 6 

 teeth on each side. Racemes erect, 

 and much crowded. Filaments bi- 

 dentate. (Bori's Mill., adapted.) 

 One of the handsomest of hardy 

 evergreen shrubs, attaining the 

 height of 6 ft. in 6 years, quite 

 hardy, producing a profusion of 

 bunches of yellow flowers during 

 April and May. It is a native of 

 the north-west coast of America, 

 from New Albion to Nootka 

 Sound, growing in rich vegetable 

 soil among rocks, or in woods, 

 where it forms a thick and rich under-growth. It was introduced into 

 England in 1823, and is to be found in all good collections. Accord- 

 ing to Dr. Liudiey, it is " perhaps the handsomest hardy evergreen we 

 yet possess. Its foliage is of a rich, deep, shining green, becoming purple 

 m the winter; it bears fruit in some abundance, which consists of clus- 

 ters of roundish black berries, having their surface covered with a rich 

 violet bloom. It most resembles M. fascicularis, from which its large shinintr 

 leaves at once distinguish it." (Penni/ Cyc, iv. p. 262.) This species is pro- 

 pagated very slowly by layers, and, for some years, plants were sold in the 

 nurseries at ten guineas each. Lately, however, a number of ripe seeds 

 have been produced in England, or imported from America through the 

 Hudson's Bay Company ; and from these, many young plants have been 

 raised, in the Epsom and other nurseries ; so that small plants may now be 

 obtained for 5s, each, and in a few years they will, no doubt, not cost half 

 that sum. In Prince's Catalogue for 1825, the price is stated as 25 dollars 

 (5/. 5s.) each. 



jgt 3. M. NERVo'sA Nutt, The nerved-/e«y(?rf Mahonia, or Ash Berberry. 



Identification. Nutt. Gen. Amer., 1. p. 212. ; Don's Mill., 1. p IIS 



Hynonymes. Berberis nervbsa Ph. ; M&hbnia glumkcea Dec ; Bdrberis glum^cea Pen. Cue. 

 Ungravings: Pursh. Fl. Amer., 1. 1. 5. ; Bot. Keg,, t. M26. j aiid our fig. 58. 



Spec. Char., Spc. Leaves of 5 

 — 6 pairs, with an odd one, 

 the lower pair distant from 

 the petiole ; leaflets ovate, 

 acuminated, and remotely 

 spiny-toothed, somewhat 

 3 — 5-nerved, with 12 or 14 

 teeth on each side; ra- 

 cemes elongated ; filaments 

 bidentate. {Doit's Mill., i. 

 p. 1 18.) An evergreen un- 

 dershrub, in its native 

 habitats seldom exceeding 

 the height of 3 ft., and 

 producing its yellow flow- 

 ers in October, succeed- 

 ed by roundish fruit, of 

 a glaucous-purple colour, 

 and having an insipid 

 taste. The plant is found in 



shady pine woods, on the '^^"'^"^^^ ^ '^''^^ 



