Berberis trifoliolata

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Berberis trifoliolata
Agarita, Agrito, Algerita (Mahonia trifoliolata).jpg
Status TNC G5.svg
Secure  (NatureServe) [1]
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Eudicots
Order: Ranunculales
Family: Berberidaceae
Genus: Berberis
Species:
B. trifoliolata
Binomial name
Berberis trifoliolata
Moric.
Synonyms [2]
  • Alloberberis trifoliolata (Moric.) C.C.Yu & K.F.Chung (2017)
  • Alloberberis trifoliolata var. glauca (I.M.Johnst.) C.C.Yu & K.F.Chung (2017)
  • Berberis roemeriana Scheele (1849)
  • Berberis trifoliata Hartw. ex Lindl. (1841)
  • Berberis trifoliolata var. glauca (I.M.Johnst.) M.C.Johnst. ex Laferr. (1991)
  • Mahonia trifoliolata (Moric.) Fedde (1901)
  • Mahonia trifoliata (Hartw. ex Lindl.) Jacques & Hérincq (1845)
  • Mahonia trifoliolata var. glauca I.M.Johnst. (1950)
  • Odostemon trifoliolatus (Moric.) A.Heller (1912)

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. [3] 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. [3] 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. [4]

Contents

Distribution

The shrub is native to Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas in the Southwestern United States, and across northeastern Mexico as far south as Durango and San Luis Potosí. It mainly grows in areas that it is native in; there is no cultivation in other countries. [5] In Texas, it is found on rocky slopes and cliffs, and in thickets and open woods, from coastal South Texas northwest to the Trans-Pecos region. It is one of the most common bushes in Hill Country. [6]

In Texas, it has reached areas of up to 300,000 hectares (730,000 acres), but it is commonly seen as a pest there due to its rapid spread. Especially large coverage can be found on the Edwards Plateau in Texas. Mechanical and chemical control have been attempted, but few economically viable results have been achieved due to agarita's quick recovery ability and its resistance to many herbicides. [7]

There are also no ethnographic records describing the use of the species Berberis trifoliolata, but a number of records indicate the use of Berberis haematocarpa and Berberis repens by the Native Americans of the Plains. Virtually every part of the plant has been used for food, medicine and dye throughout history. [8]

Description

Berberis trifoliolata is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 1–2.5 m (3–8 ft) tall and wide. It has rigid and spreading branches, often forming thickets. [9] [10] The foliage is gray-green to blue-gray, and the leaflets have sharp points at the ends. [11]

Taxonomy

Berberis trifoliolata was scientifically described and named by Stefano Moricand in 1841. As part of the disagreement among botanist regarding the correct classification of many species as either Mahonia as part of Berberis , it was renamed Mahonia trifoliolata by Friedrich Karl Georg Fedde in 1901. [2] A further synonym was added by Amos Arthur Heller with his argument that it belonged in the genus Odostemon proposed by Constantine Samuel Rafinesque in 1817, [12] as Odostemon trifoliolatus. [2] A paper published by Joseph Edward Laferrière in 1997 summarized the arguments for Mahonia being more properly classified as a synonym of Berberis and supported the species being known under its original name of Berberis trifoliolata. [13] As of 2023, this is the most common classification by botanists. [2] [14]

Ecology

The plant is well adapted to hot temperatures and dry conditions. In areas where it occurs naturally, the fruits are eaten by birds and small animals use the plant for cover. [15] The shrub is also considered to be a good nectar source for honey bees and other insects. [15] As the trifoliate leaves are tough and spiny, they aren't eaten by cattle or deer. [3]

Uses

The bright red edible fruits of the agarita can be harvested around late April to early May. The fruits contain a slightly sweet and sour juice; when expelled, the juice can be used to produce an agarita wine or consumed as a fruit juice drink. The berries can also be used for jelly, pie or cobblers; the tart flavor is reported to be pleasant to eat when mixed with sugar. [16] The fruits contain seeds and can be used to germinate new agarita plants, or be roasted as a coffee alternative. [4] However, a high quantity of seeds makes raw consumption difficult.

Native Americans of the Apache, Chiricahua, and Mescalero tribes used the fresh and preserved fruit for food, and the wood shavings as a traditional eye medicine and a yellow dye for hides. [17] During early pioneering years, the alkaloid berberine in the agarita roots was used to make a yellow dye. [18] [19] Agarita also has uses in medicine; its medicinal value is created mainly by the alkaloids in the roots, and throughout history, it was used to treat ailments ranging from fevers to stomach troubles and open wounds. It was also used as a laxative by the Ramah Navajo and other groups native to the Pacific Northwest. The roots are known to possess antiseptic qualities and are therefore used to treat wounds, skin or gum problems. [16]

Cultivation

Berberis trifoliolata is cultivated as an ornamental plant for use in desert-region gardens. [9] Berberis trifoliolata is exceptionally drought and heat tolerant. [20] Thus, they also grow in dry periods without being watered. It usually grows best in full sun, but it can also be cultivated in light shade. Additionally, the plant is not very cold tolerant and is therefore especially grown in places where winters are short and mild. The plant can be reproduced generatively with the seeds. The seeds need a cold stratification of two to three months. Therefore, it can be sown through summer or autumn and the seeds then germinate in spring. As it is a Perennial plant, it doesn't need to be sown yearly and has a very long lifespan. Berberis trifoliolata tolerates a variety of soil textures like Loam, Clay, clay-loam and Gravel. It usually grows very well in dry, well-drained soils. Usually, the plant occurs on soils derived from Limestone parent material and therefore tolerates Alkali soil. [15]

There are not many known insect or disease problems in agarita. Sometimes leaf spots and rusts - especially black stem rust - may occur. Stem rust, caused by the fungus Puccinia graminis , is an agriculturally important disease in wheat, barley, oats, rye, and triticale. Since Berberis trifoliolata acts as an intermediate host, farmers have removed the bushes to reduce the prevalence of disease. However, typically the climate is too arid for the cultivation of cereals in areas where the plant grows naturally. [3]

As the roots contain a large amount of the alkaloid berberine, they inhibit some root fungi and are therefore relatively resistant to pathogens. [7]

Biology

Reproduction occurs through seeds and sprouts. [21] The seed is produced and dispersed during summer, it usually germinates in the following spring. Dispersal happens through a variety of birds and mammals. The sprouts represent the vegetative reproduction; they usually grow from the roots or the root crown. This growth is especially vigorous when the above ground vegetation is removed or damaged (through fires, cutting, etc.). [7] The flowers usually bloom from February until March. The berries ripen from April to July, but peak ripeness is usually already reached in May. [7]

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 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>Coptis trifolia</i> Species of flowering plant

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

Berberis repens commonly known as creeping mahonia, creeping Oregon grape, or creeping barberry, is a species of Berberis native to most of the western United States and two western provinces of Canada. It has found use as a xeric ornamental plant and has escaped from cultivation in areas beyond its native range.

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

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

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

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.

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

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.

<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 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.

Berberis pimana is a species of the genus Berberis in the family Berberidaceae. It is native to a mountainous region of the Sierra Madre Occidental in the Mexican states of Chihuahua and Sonora.

<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 napaulensis</i> Species of shrub

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 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.

<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.

References

  1. ↑ NatureServe (2023). "Mahonia trifoliolata". Arlington, Virginia. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 4 "Berberis trifoliolata Moric". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Agarita, BERBERIS TRIFOLIOLATA". www.backyardnature.net. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  4. 1 2 Durand, Herbert K. (October 1972). "Texas mahonia—a neglected economic plant". Economic Botany. 26 (4): 319–325. doi:10.1007/bf02860701. ISSN   0013-0001. S2CID   33422128.
  5. ↑ "Berberis trifoliolata". Germplasm Resources Information Network . Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture . Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  6. ↑ "Common agarita". Native Plant Society of Texas. 2009-10-19. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Mahonia trifoliolata". Fire Effects Information System. 2016-03-01.
  8. ↑ "Nature-agarita". Agarito, Algerita. 2016-03-01.
  9. 1 2 Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Native Plant Information Network (NPIN) treatment of Mahonia trifoliolata (Agarita, Agarito, Algerita, Laredo mahonia)
  10. ↑ I.M. Johnstone, Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 31: 190. 1950.
  11. ↑ "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2019-11-15.
  12. ↑ "Odostemon Raf". Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  13. ↑ Laferrière, Joseph Edward (1997). "Transfer of Specific and Infraspecific Taxa from Mahonia to Berberis (Berberidaceae)". Botanicheskii Zhurnal. 82 (9): 95–98. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
  14. ↑ WFO (2023). "Berberis trifoliolata Moric". World Flora Online. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 "Mahonia trifoliolata". www.fs.fed.us. Retrieved 2019-11-16.
  16. 1 2 "Agarito, Algerita". Texas beyond history. 2016-03-01. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  17. ↑ University of Michigan at Dearborn: Native American Ethnobotany of Mahonia trifoliolata
  18. ↑ "Mahonia trifoliolata". Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. 2015-06-24. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  19. ↑ "Flora Fact:Painful Picking". Texas Parks & Wildlife. 2014-04-01. Retrieved 2019-11-28.
  20. ↑ Texas Native Plants Database: Mahonia trifoliolata (Agarita)
  21. ↑ "Berberis trifoliata (also known as Mahonia trifoliata)" – via www.public.asu.edu.
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