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. nevinii A. Gray

NEVIN'S BARBERRY

Stems erect, 1–4 m; bud bracts generally deciduous
Leaves cauline or crowded on short, lateral stems, 3.5–7(12) cm; petiole generally 0.5–2 cm; leaflets generally 3–5, 2.5–4 cm, 1.2–2 cm wide, narrowly elliptic to lanceolate, flat to wavy, base ± obtuse, tip acute to acuminate, serrate, spine-tipped teeth 8–10, tips ± 1 mm
Inflorescence 3.5–6.5 cm, open; axis internodes 5–10 mm in flower; flowers 3–5
Fruit 5–8 mm diam, spheric, reddish
Seeds 3.5–4 mm
Ecology: Sandy to gravelly soils, washes, chaparral
Elevation: < 650 m.
Bioregional distribution: Southwestern California
Synonyms: Mahonia n. (A. Gray) Fedde
Horticultural information: In cultivation.