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BERBERIDACEAE

BARBERRY FAMILY

Michael P. Williams

Perennial, shrub, generally from rhizomes; caudex sometimes present, glabrous, glaucous, or hairy
Stems spreading to erect, branched or not
Leaves simple, 1–3-ternate, or pinnately compound, basal and cauline, generally alternate, deciduous or evergreen, petioled
Inflorescence: generally raceme, spike, or panicle, scapose, terminal, or axillary
Flower: sepals 6–18 or 0, generally in whorls of 3; petals generally 6, in 2 whorls of 3, or 0; stamens 6–12, free or fused at base, 2-whorled or not, anthers dehiscent by flap-like valves or longitudinal slits; ovary superior, chamber 1, ovules generally 1–10, style 1 or 0, stigma flat or spheric
Fruit: berry, capsule, or achene
Genera in family: 16 genera, ± 670 species: temp, tropical worldwide; some cultivated (Berberis, Epimedium, Nandina (Heavenly bamboo), Vancouveria )
Reference: [Ernst 1964 J Arnold Arbor 45:1–35]

BERBERIS

OREGON-GRAPE, BARBERRY

Shrub, generally from rhizomes
Stems spreading to erect, branching, spiny or not, sometimes vine-like; inner bark, wood generally bright yellow; bud bracts deciduous or persistent
Leaves simple or pinnately compound, cauline, alternate, deciduous or evergreen; leaflets generally 3–11, ± round to lanceolate, generally spine-toothed
Inflorescence: raceme, axillary or terminal
Flower: sepals 9 in 3 whorls of 3; petals 6 in 2 whorls of 3, base generally glandular; stamens 6, anther valves pointed down to ± spreading; ovules 2–9, stigma ± spheric
Fruit: berry, spheric to elliptic, generally purple-black
Species in genus: ± 600 species: temp worldwide
Etymology: (Latin: ancient Arabic name for barberry)
[see Moran 1982 Phytologia 52:221–226 for relationship between Berberis and Mahonia ] Roots often TOXIC; spines may inject fungal spores into skin.

Native

B. fremontii Torr.


Stems erect, 0.1–4(5) m; bud bracts < 5 mm, generally deciduous
Leaves 3–6 cm, crowded on short lateral stems; petiole < 1 cm; leaflets 3–7(9); terminal leaflet 1.5–2.5 cm, 1–1.5 cm wide, ovate, oblong, or lanceolate, wavy, generally folded along midrib, base truncate to wedge-shaped, tip generally acute, margin ± lobed, spine-tipped teeth 3–8, 2–3 mm
Inflorescence 4–5.5 cm, open; axis internodes 2–10 mm, 5–10 mm in fruit; flowers 8–12
Fruit 6–15 mm diam, ± spheric, glaucous, yellowish or purplish red to dark purple
Seeds 3–4 mm
Ecology: Rocky slopes, pinyon/juniper woodland, chaparral
Elevation: 900–1850 m.
Bioregional distribution: Peninsular Ranges, e&s Mojave Desert
Distribution outside California: to Colorado, New Mexico, Mexico
Flowering time: Apr–Jun
Synonyms: B. higginsiae Munz; Mahonia higginsiae (Munz) Ahrendt, Higgins' barberry
Intergrades with B. haematocarpa , especially in e DMoj
Horticultural information: 4, 5, 6, 7, 14, 15, 16, 17, 23, 24 IRR: 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22.

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bioregional map for BERBERIS%20fremontii being generated
 
N.B. The distribution depicted here differs from that given in The Jepson Manual (1993)

Retrieve Jepson Interchange Index to Plant Names entry for Berberis fremontii
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