30 
place them in alliance with Vitacese. FI. Bras. 1. 47. Some of the pinnated 
species of Berberis have stipules. 
Geography. Natives of mountainous places in the temperate parts of the 
northern hemisphere, and of South America as far as the Straits of Magellan ; 
none in Africa, Australasia, or the South Sea islands. DC. 
Properties. The berries of Berberis vulgaris and other species are acid 
and astringent, and form with sugar an agi'eeable refreshing preserve. Their 
acid is the oxalic. (Malic, Royle.) The stem and bark of the Berberry are 
excessively astringent, and are employed for that reason by dyers. DC. The 
root yields a yeUow dye. A. Rich. 
GENERA. 
§ 1. Berberide.®. § 2. Nandine^e. Achlys, DC. Aceranthus, Morren. 
Berberis, L. Epimedium, L. Caulophyllum, Michx. Vancouveria, Morren. 
Mahonia, Nutt. Nandina, Thunb. Diphylleja, Michx. Bongardia, Meyer. 
Leontice, L. 
Alliance VI. PITTOSPORALES. 
Essential Character. — Carpels all combined completely into a solid ovary, with a 
single style. Placentce central. Stamens never epigynous. 
This is undoubtedly the weakest part of the albuminous group, and will in 
all probability be entirely altered by the discovery of other plants. In the 
meanwhile, on the one hand, the affinity of Vitacese with UmbeUiferse is un- 
questioned and unquestionable ; and I think that few persons can be found to 
doubt that Sarraceniacese are in close affiance with Papaveracese, or Francoacese 
with Ranunculacese, or Pittosporacese with Dilleniaceee through Cheiranthera. 
With regard to the mutual relation of the natural orders grouped under this 
affiance, I must confess that, with the exception of Vitaceae and Pittosporacese, 
about which I entertain no doubt, the others are too little known by me, and 
probably too little investigated by others, to enable any one to form a correct 
opinion about them. But I no more perceive the resemblance of Olacacese to 
Sapotacese, Aquilariaceae, or Aurantiaceae, and of Francoaceae to Crassulaceae, 
or Saxifragaceae, than to those plants with which they are here associated ; and 
certain it is that Francoaceae are at least as near Ranunculaceae as any of the 
orders to which they have been before compared. 
Order XVII. VITACE^. The Vine Tribe. 
ViTEs, Juss. Gen. 267. (1789). — Sarmentace^, Vent. Tabl. 3. 167. (1799). — Vini- 
FER.®, Juss. Mem.. Mus. 3. 444. (1817). — Ampelide.®, Kunth in Humboldt, 
N. G. et Sp. 5. 223. (1821); DC. Prodr. 1. 627. (1824). — Leeace^, Bartling 
Ord. Nat. p. 354. (1830). Martius Conspectus, No. 148. (1835.) 
Essential Character. — Calyx small, nearly entire at the edge. Petals 4 or 5, 
inserted on the outside of a disk surrounding the ovary ; in aestivation turned inwards 
at the edge, in a valvate manner, and often inflected at the point. Stamens equal in num- 
ber to the petals, and opposite them, inserted upon the disk, sometimes sterile by abor- 
tion ; filaments distinct, or slightly cohering at the base ; anthers ovate, versatile. Ovary 
superior, 2-celled ; style 1, very short; simple ; erect, definite. Berry round, 
often by abortion 1 -celled, pulpy. Seeds 4 or 5, or fewer by abortion, bony, erect; albumen 
