berberis

The genus Berberis has dimorphic shoots: long shoots which form the structure of the plant, and short shoots only {{convert|1|–|2|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. The leaves on long shoots are non-photosynthetic, developed into one to three or more spines{{cite book|last=Stace|first=C. A.|author-link=Stace, C. A.|year=2010|title=New Flora of the British Isles|edition=Third|publisher=Cambridge University Press|location = Cambridge, U.K.|isbn=9780521707725|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=c6IpngEACAAJ}}{{rp|96}} {{convert|3|–|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} long. The bud in the axil of each thorn-leaf then develops a short shoot with several normal, photosynthetic leaves. These leaves are {{convert|1|–|10|cm|in|abbr=on}} long, simple, and either entire, or with spiny margins. Only on young seedlings do leaves develop on the long shoots, with the adult foliage style developing after the young plant is 1–2 years old.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

Many deciduous species, such as Berberis thunbergii and B. vulgaris, are noted for their attractive pink or red autumn colour. In some evergreen species from China, such as B. candidula and B. verruculosa, the undersides of the leaves are brilliant white, a feature valued horticulturally. Some horticultural variants of B. thunbergii have dark red to violet foliage. Such as B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Admiration',{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/226438/i-Berberis-thunbergii-i-f-i-atropurpurea-i-Admiration-sup-(PBR)-sup/Details |title = RHS Plantfinder – Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Admiration' |publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date=21 January 2018}} and B. thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Atropurpurea Nana'.{{cite web | url= https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/90145/i-Berberis-thunbergii-i-f-i-atropurpurea-i-Atropurpurea-Nana/Details

|title = RHS Plantfinder – Berberis thunbergii f. atropurpurea 'Atropurpurea Nana' | publisher = Royal Horticultural Society | access-date=21 January 2018}}

The flowers are produced singly or in racemes of up to 20 on a single flower-head. They are yellow or orange, {{convert|3|–|6|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, sepals are usually six, rarely three or nine and there are six petals in alternating whorls of three, the sepals usually coloured like the petals. The fruit is a small berry {{convert|5|–|15|mm|in|abbr=on}} long, ripening red or dark blue, often with a pink or violet waxy surface bloom; in some species, they may be long and narrow, but are spherical in other species.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

Some authors regard the compound-leaved species as belonging to a different genus, Mahonia. There are no consistent differences between the two groups other than the leaf pinnation (Berberis sensu stricto appear to have simple leaves, but these are in reality compound with a single leaflet; they are termed "unifoliolate"{{Cite journal|last1=Pabón-Mora|first1=Natalia|last2=González|first2=Favio|date=2012|title= Leaf development, metamorphic heteroblasty and heterophylly in Berberis s. l. (Berberidaceae)|journal=The Botanical Review|volume=78|issue=4|pages=463–489|doi= 10.1007/s12229-012-9107-2|bibcode=2012BotRv..78..463P |s2cid=15401971}}), and many botanists prefer to classify all these plants in the single genus Berberis.{{cite web|url=http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=1&taxon_id=233500229|title=Berberis fremontii in Flora of North America @ efloras.org|website=www.efloras.org}}Loconte, H., & J. R. Estes. 1989. Phylogenetic systematics of Berberidaceae and Ranunculales (Magnoliidae). Systematic Botany 14:565-579.Marroquín, Jorge S., & Joseph E. Laferrière. 1997. Transfer of specific and infraspecific taxa from Mahonia to Berberis. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 30(1):53-55.Laferrière, Joseph E. 1997. Transfer of specific and infraspecific taxa from Mahonia to Berberis. Botanicheskii Zhurnal 82(9):96-99. However, a recent DNA-based phylogenetic study retains the two separate genera, by clarifying that unifoliolate-leaved Berberis s.s. is derived from within a paraphyletic group of shrubs bearing imparipinnate evergreen leaves, which the paper then divides into three genera: Mahonia, Alloberberis (formerly Mahonia section Horridae), and Moranothamnus (formerly Berberis claireae); it confirms that a broadly-circumscribed Berberis (that is, including Mahonia, Alloberberis, and Moranothamnus) is monophyletic.{{Cite journal|last1=Yu|first1=Chih-Chieh|last2=Chung|first2=Kuo-Fang|date=2017|title=Why Mahonia? Molecular recircumscription of Berberis s.l., with the description of two new genera, Alloberberis and Moranothamnus|journal=Taxon|volume=66|issue=6|pages=1371–1392|doi=10.12705/666.6|bibcode=2017Taxon..66.1371Y }}

File:Zereshk Zibad.jpg

Berberis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species, including the moths barberry carpet moth (Pareulype berberata), and mottled pug (Eupithecia exiguata).{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

Berberis species can infect wheat with stem rust, a serious fungal disease of wheat and related grains.{{cite web|url=http://www.iflscience.com/plants-and-animals/biologists-spot-first-uk-case-of-ancient-crop-disease-in-uk-in-six-decades/|title=Biologists Spot First UK Case Of An Ancient Crop Disease In Six Decades|date=15 February 2018 }} Berberis vulgaris (European barberry) and Berberis canadensis (American barberry) serve as alternate host species of the rust fungus responsible, the fungus Puccinia graminis. For this reason, cultivation of B. vulgaris is prohibited in many areas, and imports to the United States are forbidden. The North American B. canadensis, native to Appalachia and the Midwest United States, was nearly eradicated for this reason, and is now rarely seen extant, with the most remaining occurrences in the Virginia mountains.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

Some Berberis species have become invasive when planted outside of their native ranges, including B. glaucocarpa and B. darwinii in New Zealand (where it is now banned from sale and propagation), and B. vulgaris and green-leaved B. thunbergii in much of the eastern United States.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

Japanese barberry is considered an invasive plant in 32 US states. It is deer-resistant because of its taste and is favoured as a shelter for ticks capable of transmitting lyme disease.{{cite web |url=https://www.popsci.com/avoid-ticks-forest |title = You're less likely to get a tick bite if you steer clear of these spots| date=11 May 2018 }}

{{More citations needed section|date=January 2021}}

Several species of Berberis are popular garden shrubs, grown for such features as ornamental leaves, yellow flowers, or red or blue-black berries. Numerous cultivars and hybrids have been selected for garden use. Low-growing Berberis plants are also commonly planted as pedestrian barriers. Taller-growing species are valued for crime prevention; being dense and viciously spiny, they are effective barriers to burglars. Thus they are often planted below vulnerable windows, and used as hedges. Many species are resistant to predation by deer.

Species in cultivation include:

• B. darwinii
• B. dictyophylla
• B. julianae
• B. thunbergii
• B. verruculosa

The following hybrid selections have gained the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:

• B. 'Georgei'{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/21271/Berberis-Georgei/Details|title=RHS Plant Selector Berberis 'Georgei' AGM / RHS Gardening|publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk|access-date=2020-04-17}}
• B. × lologensis 'Apricot Queen'{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/77074/Berberis-x-lologensis-Apricot-Queen/Details|title=RHS Plant Selector Berberis × lologensis 'Apricot Queen' AGM / RHS Gardening|publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk|access-date=2020-04-17}}
• B. × media 'Red Jewel'{{cite web|url=http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=2173|archive-url=https://archive.today/20121224182817/http://apps.rhs.org.uk/plantselector/plant?plantid=2173|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 24, 2012|title=RHS Plant Selector Berberis × media 'Red Jewel' AGM / RHS Gardening|publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk|access-date=2013-04-07}}

• B. × stenophylla 'Corallina Compacta'{{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/91440/Berberis-x-stenophylla-Corallina-Compacta/Details|title=RHS Plant Selector Berberis × stenophylla 'Corallina Compacta' AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk|access-date=2020-04-17}}
• B. × stenophylla (golden barberry){{cite web|url=https://www.rhs.org.uk/Plants/93438/Berberis-x-stenophylla-Lindl/Details|title=RHS Plant Selector Berberis × stenophylla Lindl. AGM / RHS Gardening |publisher=Apps.rhs.org.uk|access-date=2020-04-17}}

File:Zaytinya - December 2018 - Stierch 01.jpg

Berberis vulgaris grows in the wild in much of Europe and West Asia. It produces large crops of edible berries, rich in vitamin C, but with a sharp acid flavour. In Europe for many centuries the berries were used for culinary purposes much as citrus peel is used. Today in Europe they are very infrequently used. The country in which they are used the most is Iran, where they are referred to as zereshk ({{lang|fa|زرشک}}) in Persian. The berries are common in Persian cuisine in rice dishes such as zereshk polo (a dish of rice cooked in the Persian style with saffron and barberries, often served with chicken) and morassa polo (literal translation "bejewelled rice", an opulent dish of rice with barberries and slivers of pistachio, almond, and orange peel) and as a flavouring for poultry. Because of their sour flavour, they are sometimes cooked with sugar before being added to Persian rice. Iranian markets sell dried zereshk. By virtue of their limited availability, specialised growing conditions, and the complexity of the harvesting process, they are considered expensive and so are served in the finest of Persian dishes. In Russia and Eastern Europe, it is sometimes used in jams as a source of pectin (especially with mixed berries). An extract of barberries is a common flavouring for soft drinks, candies, and sweets.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

Berberis microphylla and B. darwinii (both known as calafate and michay) are two species found in Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. Their edible purple fruit are used for jams and infusions.{{Cn|date=February 2021}}

The dried fruit of Berberis vulgaris is used in herbal medicine.See e.g. [https://web.archive.org/web/20130801084909/http://umm.edu/health/medical/altmed/herb/barberry "Barberry" @ Alternative Medicine @ University of Maryland Medical Center] The chemical constituents include isoquinolone alkaloids, especially berberine. A full list of phytochemicals was compiled and published in 2014. Mokhber-Dezfuli N, Saeidnia S, Gohari AR, Kurepaz-Mahmoodabadi M. Phytochemistry and pharmacology of berberis species. Pharmacogn Rev. 2014;8(15):8–15. doi:10.4103/0973-7847.125517 The safety of using berberine for any condition is not adequately defined by high-quality clinical research.{{cite web |date=22 February 2024 |title=Berberine |url=https://medlineplus.gov/druginfo/natural/1126.html |access-date=31 July 2024 |website=Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database Consumer Version |publisher=MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine, US National Institutes of Health}} Its potential for causing adverse effects is high, including untoward interactions with prescription drugs, reducing the intended effect of established therapies. It is particularly unsafe for use in children.

Historically, yellow dye was extracted from the stem, root, and bark.{{cite encyclopaedia|first=C.|last=Tomlinson|chapter=Berberis|title=Tomlinson's Cyclopaedia of Useful Arts|year=1866|publisher=Virtue & Co.|location=London|volume=I|page=97 }}

The thorns of the barberry shrub have been used to clean ancient gold coins, as they are soft enough that they will not damage the surface but will remove corrosion and debris.{{Cite journal|last=Weiss|first=Daniel|date=July–August 2017|title=From the Trenches|journal=Archaeology|volume=70|number=4|pages=9–22 |jstor=26348971 }}

The acidic young leaves are sometimes chewed for refreshment by parched hikers.{{Cite book|last=Angier|first=Bradford|url=https://archive.org/details/fieldguidetoedib00angi/page/28/mode/2up|title=Field Guide to Edible Wild Plants|publisher=Stackpole Books|year=1974|isbn=0-8117-0616-8|location=Harrisburg, PA|page=28|oclc=799792|author-link=Bradford Angier }}

File:Berberis-aggregata.JPG|Berberis aggregata fruit

File:BerberisAculeata.jpg|B. aristata, from the Himalayas

File:Berberis gagnepainii thorn.jpg|B. gagnepainii with {{convert|20|mm|abbr=on|adj=on|frac=8}} thorn-leaves

File:Berberis gagnepainii flowers.jpg|B. gagnepainii, flowers, {{convert|7|mm|in|abbr=on|frac=8}} wide

File:Berberis gagnepainii fruit.jpg|B. gagnepainii, fruit

File:Berberis-thunbergii.JPG|B. thunbergii shrub

File:Berberis valdiviana 120502-2.jpg|B. valdiviana, flowers from Chile (cultivated in the UK)

File:Berberis verruculosa leaves.jpg|B. verruculosa, upper side of shoot above, lower side below

File:Berberis-vulgaris-flowers.jpg|B. vulgaris flowers and foliage, cultivated in Denmark

File:Berberis prattii1.jpg|B. prattii fruit

File:Barberry blossom in Eastern Siberia.jpg|Barberry blossom in Eastern Siberia

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• {{Cite web|last=Arellano|first=Gustavo|title=Naan & Kabob|work=Orange County Weekly|date=2004-03-18|url=http://www.ocweekly.com/columns/this-hole-in-the-wall-life/naan-kabob/15514/|access-date=2007-05-02|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010051807/http://www.ocweekly.com/columns/this-hole-in-the-wall-life/naan-kabob/15514/|archive-date=2007-10-10}}
• {{Cite web|last=Murrills|first=Angela|title=Best Eating: Check, please|publisher=Straight.com|date=2005-11-24|url=https://www.straight.com/node/10692|access-date=2007-05-02}}
• [http://www.rnzih.org.nz/pages/berberisglaucocarpa.htm Royal New Zealand Institute of horticulture. Berberis glaucocarpa]
• {{Cite news|last=Wilkinson|first=Bobbie|author2=Tom Wilkinson|title=It's an Adventure in Persian Cuisine at Darya Kabob|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=2004-08-15|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/ac2/wp-dyn/A64091-2004Aug13?language=printer|access-date=2007-05-02}}{{Dead link|date=July 2022 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

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{{Wikispecies}}

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{{Berberidaceae genera}}

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Category:Berberidaceae genera

Category:Berries

Category:CYP3A4 inhibitors

Category:Medicinal plants

Category:Plants used in bonsai

Category:Taxa named by Carl Linnaeus