376      The  Species  of  Berber  is  of  the  Pacific  Coast.  {Am^;I^rm' 
oval  in  shape,  the  species  of  our  Pacific  coast  have  globular  dark-blue 
berries.  On  that  account  it  seems  they  are  indiscriminately  called 
Oregon  grape ;  it  will  at  least  be  observed  from  the  statements  below> 
that  Pursh  included  Berb.  repens  in  his  Berb.  aquifolium,  to  which,  it  is 
asserted,  the  name  of  Oregon  grape  is  usually  given,  and  Mr.  Neppach 
informed  us  that  the  plant  analyzed  by  him  (see  page  373)  is  known 
by  the  same  name  in  those  parts  of  Oregon  where  it  grows.  All  the 
species  resemble  one  another  so  closely,  and  they  all  vary  in  aspect  to 
such  an  extent,  that  it  will  be  very  difficult  for  others  than  botanists  to 
distinguish  them.  It  appears  also  that  these  plants  have  been  used 
indiscriminately  on  the  Pacific  coast  for  many  years,  and  it  is  not 
unlikely,  that  they  are  indiscriminately  collected  and  used  as  Berberis 
aquifolium. 
As  indigenous  medicinal  agents,  they  certainly  deserve  the  attention 
of  physicians  ;  but  we  doubt  that  they  will  be  found  to  possess 
greater  efficacy  or  markedly  different  properties  than  the  numerous 
drugs  which  contain  notable  quantities  of  berberina. 
Excellent  descriptions  of  these  plants  are  contained  in  a  work 
recently  published  under  the  title :  "  Geological  Survey  of  Cali- 
fornia. Botany,  vol.  i,  Polypetalae :  by  W.  H.  Brewer  and  Sereno 
Watson.  Gamopetalae :  by  Asa  Gray."  With  the  annexed  plate  of 
Berb.  repens,  Lindl.,  for  the  use  of  which  we  are  indebted  to  Mr.  C,  G. 
Lloyd  of  Cincinnati,  we  publish  the  descriptions  of  all  the  California, 
species,  and  merely  remark,  as  to  the  venation,  that  the  pinnate  venation 
is  well  marked  in  the  plate,  and  that  the  leaflets  of  Berb.  nervosa  before 
us  have,  aside  from  their  different  shape,  one  or  two  veins  on  each  side 
of  the  mid-rib  originating  at  the  very  base  thereof.  The  leaflets  of 
Berb.  aquifolium  differ  from  those  figured  in  being  narrowed  towards  the 
apex. 
Leaflets  Pinnately  Veined. 
Berberis  repens,  Lindl. — A  low,  somewhat  procumbent  shrub,, 
less  than  a  foot  high  ;  leaflets  3  to  7,  ovate,  acute,  not  acuminate,  1 
to  l\  inches  long,  not  shiny  above ;  racemes  few,  terminating  the 
stems,  1  to  1 J  inch  long.  B.  aquifolium,  Pursh,  mainly  and  of 
numerous  authors.  Throughout  California,  and  extending  northward 
to  British  Columbia  and  eastward  to  Colorado  and  New  Mexico. 
B.  aquifolium,  Pursh. — A  shrub  2  to  6  feet  high,  leaflets  usually 
7,  but  often  more,  the  lower  pair  distant  from  the  stem,  ovate  to. 
oblong-lanceolate,  1  \  to  4  inches  long,  acuminate,  green  and  shining 
