Botanical Magazine 106 - 1880.pdf - hibiscus.org

TAB. 6505.
BERBERÍS BUXIFOLIA.
Native of Chili.
Nat. Ord. BEEBEBIDEJí.•Tribe BEBBEEE-E.
Genus BEEBEBIS, Linn.; (Benth. et Hook. f. Gen. Plant, vol. i. p. 43.)
BEEBEBIS buxifolia; erecta, glaberrima, foliis fasciculatis obovatis v. cuneato-
obovatis obtusis acutis v. pungentibus coriaceis integerrimis v. paucidentatis
sessilibus v. in petiolum angustatis, pedunculis solitariis 1-floris foliis longioribus,
floribus aurantiacis sepalis 3 exterioribus ovatis quam interiora orbiculata
retusa duplo brevioribus, petalis oblongis fusco-aurantiacis staminibus paulo
longioribus, baccis globosis, stylo distinct» valido, stigmate majusculo peltato.
B. buxifolia, Lamk. III. Gen. t. 253, f. 3 ; DC. Prodr. vol. i. p. 107 ; Gay Fl.
Chil. vol. i. p. 91.
B. dulcis, Sweet Brit. Fl. Gard. Ser. 2, t. 100; Faxt. Mag. Bot. vol. x. t. 171.
The nomenclature of the species of Berberís presents
many difficulties, and though I am satisfied as to the
present plant being the B. buxifoUa of Lamarck, figured
in his "Illustrations" in 1802, and B. dulcis of Sweet,
published in 1838, I am not persuaded that it may not
have an earlier name than either of these. The difficulties
referred to arise from the extreme variability both of the
foliage and the inflorescence. Of these the latter is used
for sectional characters, according as the flowers are soli-
tary, fascicled, or corymbose; but when the corymb is
sessile, the flowers appear fascicled, and it is often the case
that the flowers of the fascicles are reduced to one. _ Thus
I in the " Flora Antarctica," and De Candolle in his
Systema (vol. ii. p. 15), have referred to this species
Forster's Z?. microphylla, a Fuegian plant, found by me as
far south as Cape Horn itself, which has short three-
flowered peduncles, which are often reduced to one-flowered
ones, when it closely resembles B. buxifolia, but it differs
in a character which is almost unique amongst the high
JULY 1ST, 1880.