CHAP. VIII. 



bbrbeba'chje. m a h O' nia. 



Sli 



north-west coast of North America, along the I'iver Columbia. According 

 to Dr. Lindley, the stem of this species does not grow more than 6 in, or 

 8 in. high, and is, in fact, shorter than its leaves. The petioles of the leaves, 

 he says, " are jointed at every pair of leaflets, in the manner of a bamboo 

 stem." The plant is hardy, and will thrive in a shady border of peat soil. 

 It was introduced into England in 1822, and may be seen in the London 

 Horticultural Society's garden, but it is not yet extensively distributed. In 

 London, plants cost 10s, 6d. each. 



tt. 4. M. reVens G.Don. The ci'eeping-rooted Mahonia, or Ash Berberry. 



Identification G. Don. in Loud. Hort. Brit, No. 28182. ; and in Don's Mill., 1. p. 118. 

 Synortymes. Birberis /4quif blium, Lindl. Bot. Reg., t. 1176. ; Birberis ripens Pen, Cyc, iv. p. 262. 

 Engravings. Bot. Reg., t. 1176. ; and our fig. 59. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Leaflets 2 — 3 pairs, 

 with an odd one, roundish-ovate, 

 opaque, spiny-toothed. Racemes 

 diffuse. Rootcreeping. Filaments 

 bidentate. {Don's Mill, i. p. 1 18.) 

 A small branched evergreen 

 shrub, seldom rising higher than 

 2 ft., with the leaves somewhat 

 glaucous on both surfaces. The 

 racemes of flowers are termi- 

 nal, numerous, fascicled, diflxise, 

 risingfrora scaly buds. The plant, 

 in British gardens, produces a 

 profusion of rich yellow flowers 

 in April and May, but these have 

 not yet been succeeded by fruit. 

 Found wild on the east side of 

 the Rocky Mountains of the west 

 coast of North America, and per- 

 fectly hardy in British gardens. It is propagated by layers or suckers, 

 but does not strike readily; and it has, in consequence, been but sparingly 

 distributed. Price of plants, in London, IQs. Qd. each. 



A pp. i. Additional Species of Mahbma. 



Mahm nepalSnsis Dec, Berberis nepalensis in the list in p. 173., is an 

 evergreen Nepal shrub, from 4 ft, to 6 ft. high, of great beauty, which, if it 

 could be introduced, would probably be found as hardy as the American 

 species. — M. acanthifolia, if different from the foregoing, would also be very 

 desirable. It is said to be a fine pinnated-leaved plant, with round black fruit, 

 found on the Neelgherry Mountains of India, at the elevation of 8000 ft. M. 

 nepalensis grows at the height of 5000 ft. and 6000 ft., and attains, in shady 

 situations, an elevation of 12 ft. It is also found on the Neelgherries, in 1 1^ 

 of north latitude. (Royle's Illust.) In the Penny CycloptBdia, it is suggested 

 that M. nepalensis " ought to be obtained from India at any cost, as it would 

 in all probability succeed in this climate. — M. tragacanthmdes, with not more 

 than one or two pairs of leaflets, found along the banks of the river Kur, near 

 Teflis ; and M. caraganae/o/k, a Chinese plant very like the last, having the 

 points of the leaflets hardened into spines; well merit introduction." fiv. p, 262,) 

 A plant is mentioned by Thunberg, under the name of Tlex japonica, which 

 appears to be a Mahdma. It is found in the island of Niphon in Japan, and, as 

 it would very likely prove hardy, ought by all means to be procured. 



