Berberis ilicifolia

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Berberis ilicifolia
Flora Antarctica Plate LXXXVI.jpg
Flores de "Berberis ilicifolia". Foto tomada en el Parque Nacional de Tierra del Fuego, Ushuaia, Argentina.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. ilicifolia
Binomial name
Berberis ilicifolia
Synonyms [1]
  • B. lagenaria
  • B. subantarctica

Berberis ilicifolia, sometimes called holly barberry or holly-leaved barberry is a medium to high, spiny shrub belonging to the barberries in the family Berberidaceae. The local name in Chile is Chelia. It has ovate leaves with a few teeth that end in spines, reminiscent of holly leaves. Its orange flowers grow with three to seven together, which later produce globose blue-black berries. The species is native to south of 40ºS in Argentina and Chile, where it grows in Nothofagus woods. Flowers are present from August to December, while ripe berries are available between November and March. [1]

Contents

Description

The holly barberry is an evergreen shrub of between 1–4 m high. Branches develop from reddish brown, with ridges lengthways and very fine grains when young, to yellowish gray, circular in cross-section with persistent half circle-shaped leaf scars, and often with corky outgrowths. The spines are mostly split at base into three arms of 4–12 mm long, often somewhat curved outward, and almost at a straight angle to each other. Bracts are narrowly triangular and about 1 cm long. The leaf blades are approximately elliptic, 20-50 × 12–22 mm, with the largest width before, at or beyond midlength, stiff and leathery, shiny danker green on top, but sometimes prone to patchy reddish brown or golden discoloration, and whitish green underneath. The margin mostly has few teeth (zero to six, mostly one to four) at each side that end in spines of 1–4 mm long, and with a truncated or pointed and spined tip. The base can be rounded or pointed more or less blending with the leafstem of up to 4 mm long. The midvein is slightly sunken above but sticks out underneath, the three to five pairs of secondary veins that partially reach the leaf margin, partially curve back on their neighbours. The inflorescens is a raceme of tree to seven flowers on a common inflorescens stem ⅔–2 or exceptionally 3½ cm long, and stems of the individual flower mostly a bit shorter. The flowers are orange in color and ½–1 cm long, with about 14 tepals, that change in shape form almost circular to ovate going out. The filaments are 3 mm long and do not have a tooth on each side, unlike in many other Berberis species, and the anther is about 1½ mm long. The pistils are 3–7 mm long and almost cylindrical and are topped with a stigma of about 1½ mm across. These develop into ball-shaped, 1 cm, glaucous berries that contain four to six seeds, each about ½ cm long. [1]

Berberis ilicifolia looks like B. serratodentata and their home ranges coincide between Coihaique and Puyehue in Chile. Here, one species merges into the other, most probably through consecutive interbreeding, and the bastard grade may be called B. ×pseudoilicifolia. Typical B. ilicifolia leaves are 1½–2½ times longer than wide, with mostly one to four teeth on each side, while branches carry many spines. Pure B. serratodentata leaves are 2½-4 times longer than wide, with more than ten teeth on each side, while spines on the branches are rare. [1]

Taxonomy

Berberis ilicifolia was first described by Georg Forster in 1789. B. lagenaria described by Jean Louis Marie Poiret in 1808, and B. subarctica described by Michel Gandoger in 1913 both are now regarded as synonyms of B. ilicifolia. Like almost every Berberis species in South-America, B. ilicifolia belongs to the subgenus Australes, characterised by simple, evergreen leaves and glaucous, purplish to black berries. [2] Within that subgenus, B. ilicifolia forms a group with B. chilensis , B. litoralis , B. valdiviana , B. darwinii , B. trigona , B. serratodentata, B. negeriana , and probably B. laurina . This group more or less shares the following character states: large trifid spines, flowers in racemes, long styles, filaments without teeth, and secondary veins that partially reach the leaf margin, partially curve back on their neighbours. [1]

Ecology and use

Holly barberry comprises the understory of lenga Nothofagus pumilio and ñire Nothofagus antarctica woods, together with hard log mayten Maytenus magellanica , Fuchsia magellanica and the smaller barberry species B. microphylla . [3] The filaments are tactile, i.e. they suddenly jerk upright when touched, with the result that visiting insects will be showered with pollen. Stems have been used to make bows by the inhabitants of Tierra del Fuego, because the wood is sufficiently pliant and does not branch over sufficient length. [4]

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.

<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 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 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>Lomatia ilicifolia</i> Species of plant in the family Proteaceae endemic to south-eastern Australia

Lomatia ilicifolia, commonly known as holly lomatia or native holly, is a plant in the family Proteaceae and is endemic to south-eastern Australia. It is a stiff, erect shrub with hairy, rust-coloured new growth and which recovers from fire from a lignotuber. It has dull green, leathery, prickly, holly-like leaves and long sprays of cream flowers, usually after fire.

<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 valdiviana</i> Species of shrub

Berberis valdiviana is a species of flowering plant in the barberry family Berberidaceae. It is an evergreen shrub from Chile, where it is locally known as cien or espina en cruz. The Latin specific name valdiviana refers to the Valdivia Province of Chile. It has simple, dark green, pointed leaves, glossy on the upper surfaces, up to 8.5 cm (3.3 in) long. The flowers, which appear in May, are grouped in hanging racemes. Individual flowers are orange, 5–8 mm (0.2–0.3 in) across, and are followed by purplish fruits. It is grown as an ornamental plant, but is not suitable for colder regions.

<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 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 gagnepainii</i> Species of plant

Berberis gagnepainii, or Gagnepain's barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, first described in 1908. It is endemic to China, known from Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces.

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

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. It is one out of only species of Berberis that grow in the wild in Africa, where it can be found at high altitudes in Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Ethiopia, Somalia, and Malawi. It is also reported from Yemen and Oman. 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.

<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. 1 2 3 4 5 Landrum, Leslie R. (1999). "Revision of Berberis (Berberidaceae) in Chile and adjacent southern Argentina". Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden . 86 (4): 793–832. doi:10.2307/2666170. JSTOR   2666170.
  2. Rounsaville, Todd J.; Ranney, Thamos G. (2010). "Ploidy Levels and Genome Sizes of Berberis L. and Mahonia Nutt. Species, Hybrids, and Cultivars" (PDF). HortScience. 45 (7): 1029–1033. doi: 10.21273/hortsci.45.7.1029 . Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-05-24. Retrieved 2016-03-05.
  3. O.W. Archibold (2012). Ecology of World Vegetation. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 174. ISBN   978-9401100090.
  4. Elizabeth Kent (1831). Sylvan sketches. Whittaker. pp.  36.