Berberis holstii

Last updated

Berberis holstii
Berberis holstii mtkenya flowers.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Berberis
Species:
B. holstii
Binomial name
Berberis holstii
Synonyms

Berberis holstii is a spiny evergreen shrub assigned to the barberry family, with simple leaves, hanging panicles with a few yellow flowers and eventually blackish-blue berries. [1] It is one out of only species of Berberis that grow in the wild in Africa, where it can be found at high altitudes (above 2000 m) in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Malawi. It is also reported from Yemen and Oman. [2] [3] In Malawi it is known as Kayunga, while in Ethiopia it is called Gewo, Yeset af in Amharic, as well as Zinkila, a name also used in the Afar language, and Godxantool in the Somali language. [4] [5] [6]

Contents

Description

berries Berberis holstii mtkenya fruits.jpg
berries
spines and leaves Berberis holstii mtkenya thorns.jpg
spines and leaves

Berberis holstii is hairless evergreen shrub of 1–3 m high, with reddish or brownish young shoots, that later develop dark grey bark. At the base of the short side shoots, that carry leaves and flowers, are 1–4 cm long spines with three (to five) branches. The leaves appear simple, but there are two short hairlike leaflets at the base. The large top leaflet is stiff and leathery, and mostly measures 2–3 cm in length, is generally inverted egg-shaped and may have a few spiny teeth along the margin and one at the tip. The typical yellow barberry flowers are in few flowered panicles 2½–7½ cm long. The three inner sepals are 6–7 mm long and rounded at their tip. The six petals are 4½–6 mm long and inverted egg-shaped. Like the flowers in many other Berberis-species, they contain stamens that respond to touch by rapidly moving upwards and inwards, to promote delivering pollen on the body of a visiting insect. The flowers will develop into long oval berries which retain the stigma, and are initially frosted green, turn to a frosted deep purple when ripe, and contain one to four seeds. In Malawi, flowers are present in October and November, while the berries are ripe in May and June. [4] [6] [7]

Taxonomy

In 1847, Achille Richard described the species as Berberis tinctoria, an unavailable name since Jean-Baptiste Leschenault de La Tour had already used it on another species in 1822. Daniel Oliver proposed Berberis aristata, but this name had also been used before, this time by Augustin Pyramus de Candolle in 1821 for a somewhat differing but closely related species from the Himalayas. In 1895, Adolf Engler described Berberis holstii, which he assigned to the Berberidaceae, based on a plant that was collected by Holst in the Usambara Mountains, in former Tanganyika. Remarkably, Engler described Berberis aristata var. subintegra in the year 1900 based on a specimen collected by Goetze in the Uluguru Mountains in Tanganyika. In 1905, Camillo Karl Schneider described Berberis petitiana based on a plant collected by Quartin Dillon and Petit in Menisa, Ethiopia. Leslie Walter Allen Ahrendt described Berberis grantii in 1961 based on a specimen from the western Usambara Mountains collected by Grant. All of these names are now considered synonymous. [7]

Distribution

Berberis holstii occurs in the highlands of eastern Africa, from northern Malawi to Ethiopia and Somalia, and on the Arabian Peninsula in Yemen and Oman. [4] [6]

Habitat

Berberis holstii can be found in open upland woodland, on the margins and glades of mountain rain-forest, mountain evergreen bushland and the park-like landscapes where the scattered trees mostly are Juniperus, Hagenia and Olea . [4] This species usually occurs between 2300–3200 m of altitude. [5]

Ecology

Berberis holstii is susceptible to the rust species Puccinia graminis and P. striiformis , and spores of P. graminis from B. holstii can infect certain varieties of wheat, barley, rye, and oat. [8]

Use

Berberis holstii is used as firewood, for making hedges, and cut branches are reported to be useful in the construction of barriers that are difficult for rodents to pass. [5] It is also used in traditional medicine against a host of ailments, including coughing, pneumonia, malaria, stomach ache, and STDs, as an infusion of the root. [3] One study found that alkaloid extracts of the roots showed significant activity against a strain of the malaria parasite, Plasmodium falciparum, as well as good activity against a strain of HIV, while not being cytotoxic. [9]

Conservation

Berberis holstii is considered a most important source for traditional medicine. Because the root is used in most cases, and hence entire plants are collected in substantial quantities, the species may become threatened. [3]

Related Research Articles

<i>Berberis aquifolium</i> Species of flowering plant

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.

<i>Mahonia</i> Genus of flowering plants belonging to the barberry family

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. They are closely related to the genus Berberis and as of 2023 the majority of botanical sources list it as a synonym for Berberis.

<i>Berberis</i> Genus of flowering plants representing the barberry family

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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Berberidaceae</span> Family of flowering plants

The Berberidaceae are a family of 18 genera of flowering plants commonly called the barberry family. This family is in the order Ranunculales. The family contains about 700 known species, of which the majority are in the genus Berberis. The species include trees, shrubs and perennial herbaceous plants.

<i>Berberis microphylla</i> Species of plant

Berberis microphylla, common name box-leaved barberry and Magellan barberry, in Spanish calafate and michay and other names, is an evergreen shrub, with simple, shiny box-like leaves. The calafate is native to southern Argentina and Chile and is a symbol of Patagonia. Berberis microphylla should not be confused with Mahonia microphylla, native to China.

<i>Berberis nervosa</i> Species of flowering plant

Berberis nervosa, commonly known as dwarf Oregon-grape, Cascade barberry, Cascade Oregon-grape, or dull Oregon-grape, is a flowering plant native to the northwest coast of North America from southern British Columbia south to central California, with an isolated population inland in northern Idaho. It is especially common in second growth, Douglas-fir or western redcedar forests, making use of those pools of sunlight that intermittently reach the ground.

<i>Berberis darwinii</i> Species of shrub

Berberis darwinii, Darwin’s barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to southern Chile and Argentina and naturalized elsewhere. Regional vernacular names include michay, calafate, and quelung. Growing to 3–4 m (9.8–13.1 ft) tall, it is an evergreen thorny shrub.

<i>Berberis vulgaris</i> Species of shrub

Berberis vulgaris, also known as common barberry, European barberry or simply barberry, is a shrub in the genus Berberis native to the Old World. It produces edible but sharply acidic berries, which people in many countries eat as a tart and refreshing fruit.

<i>Berberis thunbergii</i> Species of plant

Berberis thunbergii, the Japanese barberry, Thunberg's barberry, or red barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the barberry family Berberidaceae, native to Japan and eastern Asia, though widely naturalized in China and North America, where it has become a problematic invasive in many places, leading to declines in species diversity, increased tick habitat, and soil changes. Growing to 1 m tall by 2.5 m broad, it is a small deciduous shrub with green leaves turning red in the autumn, brilliant red fruits in autumn and pale yellow flowers in spring.

<i>Berberis trifoliolata</i> Species of flowering plant

Berberis trifoliolata is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, in southwestern North America. Common names include agarita, agrito, algerita, currant-of-Texas, wild currant, and chaparral berry. The name Agarita comes from the Spanish verb agarrar, which means "to grab". The ending "-ita" is often added to little things, so agarita means "grabs a little". This was probably said because the bush is a bit scratchy but does not have significant spines. Typical characteristics are grey-green to blue-grey leaves, yellow flowers in February to April and the red berries appearing in May. The most important harvest organ are the berries, though the roots and seeds can also be used.

<i>Berberis candidula</i> Species of plant

Berberis candidula is a species of plant in the family Berberidaceae. It is endemic to China, native to the provinces of Hubei and Sichuan. It is commonly known as paleleaf barberry.

<i>Berberis fremontii</i> Berry and plant

Berberis fremontii is a species of barberry known by the common name Frémont's mahonia.

<i>Berberis aristata</i> Species of shrub

Berberis aristata, also known as Indian barberry, Mara manjal (மரமஞ்சள்),"chutro" or "sumbal" ortree turmeric, is a shrub belonging to the family Berberidaceae and the genus Berberis. The genus comprises approximately 450-500 species of deciduous evergreen shrubs and is found in the temperate and sub-tropical regions of Asia, Europe, and the Americas. B. aristata is native to the Himalayas in India and in Nepal. It is also naturally found in the Nilgiri Mountains of southern India and in Sri Lanka.

<i>Berberis canadensis</i> Species of shrub

Berberis canadensis, commonly known as the American barberry or Allegheny barberry, is a member of the family Berberidaceae native to the eastern United States.

<i>Berberis hispanica</i> Species of shrub

Berberis hispanica is a shrub belonging to the family Berberidaceae and the genus Berberis. It is a woody plant and parts of the plant are considered toxic, although the berries are edible and juicy.

<i>Berberis harrisoniana</i> Species of shrub

Berberis harrisoniana is a rare species of flowering plant in the barberry family, Berberidaceae. It is known by the common names Kofa barberry, Kofa Mountain barberry, Harrison's barberry, and red barberry.

<i>Berberis haematocarpa</i> Species of shrub

Berberis haematocarpa, Woot. with the common names red barberry, red Mexican barbery, Colorado barberry and Mexican barberry, is a species in the Barberry family in southwestern North America. It is also sometimes called algerita, but that name is more often applied to its relative, Mahonia trifoliolata.

<i>Berberis bealei</i> Species of shrub

Berberis bealei, also known as leatherleaf mahonia, Beale's barberry, is a species of evergreen shrub native to mainland China. The species has been regarded as the same species as Berberis japonica, native to Taiwan, but the two differ consistently in certain floral and leaf characters. Both species are widely cultivated in many countries as ornamentals. Berberis bealei has reportedly escaped cultivation and become established in the wild in scattered places in the south-eastern United States from Arkansas to Florida to Delaware.

<i>Berberis empetrifolia</i> Species of shrub

Berberis empetrifolia, sometimes called heath barberry, is a low, somewhat spiny shrub belonging to the barberries in the family Berberidaceae. The local names in Chile are zarcilla, monte negro and uva de la cordillera. It has small narrow entire leaves, and small yolk-colored flowers and later globose blue-black berries. The species is native to south of 30ºS in Argentina and Chile, where it grows on sunny, often gravelly soils, and is sometimes planted as an ornamental elsewhere in temperate climates.

<i>Berberis laurina</i> Species of shrub

Berberis laurina is a spiny and woody, (semi-)evergreen shrub belonging to the barberries in the family Berberidaceae. It may grow to up to 2½ m high. The leaves are bluish green, and may turn yellow or red during autumn and winter. It has drooping racemes of light yellow flowers. The species is endemic to Uruguay, southern Brazil and Argentina. The local name in Uruguay is espina amarilla, while it is called espinho-de-judeu in Brasil.

References

  1. Engler, Heinrich Gustav Adolf (1895). Die Pflanzenwelt Ost-Afrikas. Berlin, D. Reimer.
  2. "Berberis holstii Engl". Global Biodiversity Information Facility. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  3. 1 2 3 Maliwichi-Nyirenda, Cecilia Promise; Malawichi, Lucy Lynn; Franco, Miguel (2011). "Medicinal uses of Berberis holstii Engl. (Berberidaceae) in Malawi, the only African endemic barberry". Journal of Medicinal Plants Research. 5 (8): 1367–1373. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Nyirendra, Celia Promise Maliwichi (2008), The conservation biology of Berberis holstii Engl. in Nyika National Park, Malawi (thesis) (PDF), retrieved 2017-03-03
  5. 1 2 3 "Berberis holstii" (PDF). worldagroforestry.org. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  6. 1 2 3 Thulin, M. (2008). Flora Somalia. Vol. 1. cited on "Compilation Berberis holstii". JSTOR Global Plants. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  7. 1 2 Polhill, R.M. (1966). Flora of Tropical East Africa. cited on "Compilation Berberis grantii". JSTOR Global Plants. Retrieved 2017-03-25.
  8. Melissa Lim; et al. (2015). "Berberis holstii is functional as an alternate host of Puccinia graminis in Ethiopia". Borlaug Global Rust Initiative.
  9. Ngwiraa, Kennedy J.; Maharajb, Vinesh J.; Mgani, Quintino A. (2015). "In vitro antiplasmodial and HIV-1 neutralization activities of root and leaf extracts from Berberis holstii". Journal of Herbal Medicine. 5 (1): 30–35. doi:10.1016/j.hermed.2014.12.001.