Mahonia | |
---|---|
Mahonia aquifolium fruit | |
Scientific classification | |
Kingdom: | Plantae |
Clade: | Tracheophytes |
Clade: | Angiosperms |
Clade: | Eudicots |
Order: | Ranunculales |
Family: | Berberidaceae |
Genus: | Mahonia Nutt. |
Type species | |
Mahonia aquifolium | |
Species | |
Mahonia is a formerly accepted genus of approximately 70 species of shrubs or, rarely, small trees with evergreen leaves in the family Berberidaceae, native to eastern Asia, the Himalaya, North America, and Central America. [1] They are closely related to the genus Berberis and as of 2023 the majority of botanical sources list it as a synonym for Berberis. [2] [3] [4] [5]
However, there is still disagreement among botanists, and as recently as 2017 papers have been published arguing for the validity of the genus. [6] In addition, sources that are updated less frequently like the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service PLANTS database have many plants listed in Mahonia. [7]
Most botanists prefer to classify Mahonia as a part of Berberis [8] [9] [10] [11] because several species in both genera are able to hybridize, and because there are no consistent morphological 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 and are termed "unifoliolate"; additionally their branched spines are modified compound leaves [12] ). However, recent DNA-based phylogenetic studies retain 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 are then divided into three genera: Mahonia, Alloberberis (formerly Mahonia section Horridae), and Moranothamnus (formerly Berberis claireae); a broadly-circumscribed Berberis (that is, including Mahonia, Alloberberis, and Moranothamnus) would also be monophyletic. [13]
Mahonia species bear pinnate leaves 10–50 cm (3.9–19.7 in) long with 3 to 15 leaflets, and flowers in racemes which are 5–20 cm (2.0–7.9 in) long. Several species are popular garden shrubs, grown for their ornamental, often spiny, evergreen foliage, yellow (or rarely red) flowers in autumn, winter and early spring, and blue-black berries. The flowers are borne in terminal clusters or spreading racemes, and may be among the earliest flowers to appear in the growing season. [14] The ripened fruits are acidic with a very sharp flavor. [15] The plants contain berberine, a compound found in many Berberis and Mahonia species which causes vomiting, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lethargy, and other ill effects when consumed. [15]
The genus name, Mahonia, derives from Bernard McMahon, one of the stewards of the plant collections from the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The type species of the genus is M. aquifolium . [6]
The following list includes all species of the genus Mahonia that were accepted by Tropicos, Missouri Botanical Garden in 2016. For each, binomial name is followed by author citation. [16] [17]
Some Mahonia species serve as alternate hosts for the cereal disease stem rust (Puccinia graminis). [18]
Berberis aquifolium, the Oregon grape or holly-leaved barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to western North America. It is an evergreen shrub growing 1–3 meters tall and 1.5 m (5 ft) wide, with pinnate leaves consisting of spiny leaflets, and dense clusters of yellow flowers in early spring, followed by dark bluish-black berries.
Berberis, commonly known as barberry, is a large genus of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1–5 m (3.3–16.4 ft) tall, found throughout temperate and subtropical regions of the world. Species diversity is greatest in South America and Asia; Europe, Africa and North America have native species as well. The best-known Berberis species is the European barberry, Berberis vulgaris, which is common in Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, and central Asia, and has been widely introduced in North America. Many of the species have spines on the shoots and all along the margins of the leaves.
Berberis pinnata is a species of shrub in the barberry family. Common names include California barberry, wavyleaf barberry, and shinyleaf mahonia. It is similar to the Oregon-grape, and is sometimes called the California Oregon-grape.
Berberis repens commonly known as creeping mahonia, creeping grape holly, or creeping barberry, is a species of Berberis native to most of the western United States and two western provinces of Canada. It is low growing shrub that spreads by underground stems. As a species it is well adapted to fire and is a very common understory plant in western forests. An evergreen species, it provides food to deer and elk in winter and can make up a significant part of their diet. The berries are eaten by birds and small mammals, aiding it in spreading to recently disturbed areas. It has found use as a xeric ornamental plant and has escaped from cultivation in areas beyond its native range.
Berberis decipiens is a species of shrub in the Berberidaceae described as a species in 1913. It is endemic to Hubei Province in China. The species is listed as vulnerable by the IUCN.
Berberis oiwakensis is a species of plant in the barberry family, Berberidaceae. It is native to Taiwan, China and Myanmar, where it occurs at elevations of 600 to 3800 m. It has recently been found naturalized in South Africa.
Berberis nevinii, known by the common name Nevin's barberry, is a species of flowering shrub in the barberry family.
Berberis fremontii is a species of barberry known by the common name Frémont's mahonia.
Berberis japonica is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to Taiwan. Despite the name, it is not native to Japan, though it has been known in cultivation there for centuries. The wild origins of this species have long puzzled botanists, but wild plants in Taiwan, previously known under the name Mahonia tikushiensis, appear most similar to the cultivated forms of B. japonica.
Berberis fortunei is a species of shrub in the family Berberidaceae, the barberry family, described in 1846. It is endemic to China, found in the provinces of Chongqing, Guangxi, Guizhou, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Sichuan, Taiwan, and Zhejiang. It is grown as an ornamental in many lands, with common names including Chinese mahonia, Fortune's mahonia, and holly grape.
Berberis dictyota, now reclassified as Berberis aquifolium var. dictyota, with the common names Jepson's oregon grape and shining netvein barberry, is a flowering plant in the Barberry family.
Berberis gracilis is a plant species native to the Mexico, widely distributed from Tamaulipas to Oaxaca.
Berberis bracteolata is a shrub in the Berberidaceae described as a species in 1917. It is endemic to China, known from Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces.
Berberis eurybracteata is a species of shrub in the Berberidaceae described as a species in 1901. It is endemic to China.
Berberis fordii is a species of shrub in the Berberidaceae described as a species in 1913. It is endemic to China, found in Chongqing and Guangdong Provinces.
Berberis monyulensis is a shrub in the family Berberidaceae first described as a species in 1961. It is endemic to Tibet.
Berberis napaulensis Nepali: जमाने मान्द्रो is a shrub in the family Berberidaceae described as a species in 1821. It is native to China and the Himalayas. This species is used medicinally throughout the Sikkim Eastern Himalayas.
Berberis schochii is a shrub in the Berberidaceae described as a species in 1913. It is endemic to China, known from the provinces of Guizhou and Sichuan.
Berberis ehrenbergii is a shrub in the Berberidaceae described as a species in 1847. It is native to the States of Chiapas, Tamaulipas, and Veracruz in southern Mexico.
Berberis sheridaniana is a shrub in the Berberidaceae described as a species in 1913. It is endemic to China, found in the provinces of Hubei and Sichuan.