Berberis vulgaris

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Barberry
Illustration Berberis vulgaris0.jpg
Berberis vulgaris [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. vulgaris
Binomial name
Berberis vulgaris
L.
Synonyms [2]
List
  • Berberis abortivaP.Renault
  • Berberis acidaGilib.
  • Berberis aethnensisBourg. ex Willk. & Lange
  • Berberis albaPoit. & Turpin
  • Berberis angulizansG.Nicholson
  • Berberis apyrenaK.Koch
  • Berberis arborescensK.Koch
  • Berberis articulataLoisel.
  • Berberis aspermaPoit. & Turpin
  • Berberis aureaTausch
  • Berberis bigeloviiSchrad.
  • Berberis corallinaG.Nicholson
  • Berberis dentataTausch
  • Berberis dentata var. capitataTausch
  • Berberis dulcisK.Koch
  • Berberis dumetorumGouan
  • Berberis edulisK.Koch
  • Berberis elongataG.Nicholson
  • Berberis globularisG.Nicholson
  • Berberis hakodateDippel
  • Berberis heterophyllaK.Koch
  • Berberis ibericaSweet
  • Berberis innominataKielm.
  • Berberis irritabilisSalisb.
  • Berberis jacquiniiK.Koch
  • Berberis latifoliaPoit. & Turpin
  • Berberis marginataK.Koch
  • Berberis maximaG.Nicholson
  • Berberis maximowicziiRegel
  • Berberis microphyllaF.Dietr.
  • Berberis mitisSchrad.
  • Berberis nepalensisK.Koch
  • Berberis nitensSchrad.
  • Berberis obovataSchrad.
  • Berberis orientalisC.K.Schneid.
  • Berberis pangharengensisG.Nicholson
  • Berberis paucifloraSalisb.
  • Berberis racemosaStokes
  • Berberis rubraPoit. & Turpin
  • Berberis sanguineaK.Koch
  • Berberis sanguinolentaK.Koch
  • Berberis sibiricaSchult. & Schult.f.
  • Berberis sieboldiiDippel
  • Berberis sylvestrisPoit. & Turpin
  • Berberis violaceaPoit. & Turpin

Berberis vulgaris, also known as common barberry, [3] 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.

Contents

Description

It is a deciduous shrub growing up to 4 metres (13 feet) high. The leaves are small oval, 2–5 centimetres (34–2 inches) long and 1–2 centimetres (1234 in) broad, with a serrated margin; they are borne in clusters of 2–5 together, subtended by a three-branched spine 3–8 millimetres (18516 in) long. The flowers are yellow, 4–6 mm (1814 in) across, produced on 3–6 cm (1+182+38 in) long panicles in late spring. The fruit is an oblong red berry 7–10 mm (1438 in) long and 3–5 mm (18316 in) broad, ripening in late summer or autumn.

Subspecies

As of March 2024, Plants of the World Online accepted three subspecies: [4]

Distribution and habitat

The shrub is native to central and southern Europe, southern England, [5] northwest Africa and western Asia; [6] it is also naturalised in northern Europe and North America. In the United States and Canada, it has become established in the wild over an area from Nova Scotia to Nebraska, with additional populations in Colorado, Idaho, Washington state, Montana, and British Columbia. [7] It is also cultivated in many countries.

Ecology

The berries are an important food for many small birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings.

B. vulgaris is the alternate host species of the wheat stem rust fungus (Puccinia graminis f. sp. tritici), a grass-infecting rust fungus that is a serious fungal disease of wheat and related grains. For this reason, cultivation of B. vulgaris is prohibited in Canada [8] and some areas of the US (Connecticut, Massachusetts, Michigan, and New Hampshire). [3]

Uses

Dried barberries Dried barberries on a plate.JPG
Dried barberries

The edible berries, [9] though rich in vitamin C, have a very sharp or sour flavour and are not widely consumed because the thorny shrubs make them difficult to harvest.

In Europe, the berries have been traditionally used as an ingredient in making jam. The berries are high in pectin which makes the jam congeal as it cools after having been boiled. In southwestern Asia, especially Iran, the berries are used for cooking, as well as for jam-making. In Iran, barberries are commonly used as a currant in rice pilaf.

زرشک zerešk is the Persian name for the dried fruit of Berberis spp., particularly also that of Berberis integerrima called زرشک بی‌دانه zerešk bi-dâne, literally 'seedless barberry', [10] which is widely cultivated in Iran. Iran is the largest producer of zerešk.

The South Khorasan province in Iran is the main area of zerešk and saffron production in the world, especially around Birjand and Qaen. About 85% of production is in Qaen and about 15% in Birjand. There is evidence of cultivation of seedless barberry in South Khorasan two hundred years ago. [11] A garden of zerešk is called زرشکستانzerešk-estân . Zerešk is widely used in cooking, imparting a tart flavour to chicken dishes. It is usually cooked with rice, called زرشک پلو zerešk polo, and provides a meal with chicken.

Other uses

The plant has been widely cultivated for hedges in New Zealand. [12]

A decoction of the plant has been used as a folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal ailments and coughs, [13] although its use has been limited due to the bitter taste of the bark and root. [14] [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

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

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

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

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References

  1. 1885 illustration from Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany
  2. The Plant List
  3. 1 2 USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Berberis vulgaris". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 24 March 2016.
  4. "Berberis vulgaris L." Plants of the World Online . Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew . Retrieved 13 March 2024.
  5. Plant Atlas 2020
  6. Altervista Flora Italiana, Crespino comune, Sowberry, Common Barberry, vinettier, espino cambrón, Sauerdorn, Berberis vulgaris L. includes photos, drawings, and European distribution map
  7. Flora of North America vol 3
  8. "D-01-04: Plant protection import and domestic movement requirements for barberry (Berberis, Mahoberberis and Mahonia spp.) under the Canadian Barberry Certification Program". 3 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2015.
  9. Elias, Thomas S.; Dykeman, Peter A. (2009) [1982]. Edible Wild Plants: A North American Field Guide to Over 200 Natural Foods. New York: Sterling. p. 219. ISBN   978-1-4027-6715-9. OCLC   244766414.
  10. Alemardan, Ali; Asadi, Wahab; Rezaei, Mehdi; Tabrizi, Leila; Mohammadi, Siavash (2013). "Cultivation of Iranian seedless barberry (Berberis integerrima 'Bidaneh'): A medicinal shrub". Industrial Crops and Products. 50: 276–87. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.07.061.
  11. Tehranifar, A. (2003). "Barberry Growing in Iran". In Lee, J-M.; Zhang, D. (eds.). XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural Practices, and Utilization. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 620. pp. 193–5. ISBN   978-90-66054-00-4. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
  12. Popay, Ian; Champion, Paul; James, Trevor, eds. (2010). "Berberis glaucocarpa barberry". An Illustrated Guide to Common Weeds of New Zealand (3rd ed.). Christchurch: New Zealand Plant Protection Society. ISBN   978-0-473-16285-6.[ page needed ]
  13. Schauenberg, P; Paris, F (1977). Guide to Medicinal Plants. New Canaan, CT: Keats Publishing, Inc.
  14. Duke, JA (1985). Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. Boca Raton, Florida: CRC Press.
  15. Hartwell, JL (1971). "Plants used against cancer. A survey". Lloydia. 34 (4): 386–425. PMID   5173435.