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Useful Temperate Plants

Berberis crataegina

DC.

Berberidaceae

+ Synonyms

Berberis iberica paphlagonica C.K.Schneid.

Berberis vulgaris crataegina (DC.) Hook.f. & Thomson

Common Name:

No Image.

General Information

Berberis crataegina is a deciduous shrub that can grow around 100 - 200cm tall[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food, medicine and source of dyestuff. The fruit is a popular snack food in Turkey, where the plant is commonly used for medicinal purposes.

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid berberine - this is most concentrated in the roots, stems and inner bark, and least concentrated in the fruits. In small quantities berberine has a range of effective medicinal applications but, in excess, can cause vomiting, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lethargy, and other ill-effects.
The fruit of most, if not all, members of this genus are more or less edible and can be eaten in quantity since the levels of berberine in the fruit are very low.

Botanical References

74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.

Range

Western Asia - Turkey, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Iran, Afghanistan

Habitat

Dry slopes[
74
Title
Flora of the USSR.
Publication
 
Author
Komarov. V. L.
Website
http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
Publisher
Israel Program for Scientific Translation
Year
1968
ISBN
-
Description
An immense (25 or more large volumes) and not yet completed translation of the Russian flora. Full of information on plant uses and habitats but heavy going for casual readers. It can be downloaded from the Internet.
].

Properties

Edibility Rating *  *  *
Medicinal Rating *  *  *
Other Uses Rating *  *
HabitDeciduous Shrub
Height1.50 m
PollinatorsInsects
Cultivation StatusWild

Cultivation Details


Species in this genus generaly prefer a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but they are by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[
11
Title
Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement.
Publication
 
Author
Bean. W.
Publisher
Murray
Year
1981
ISBN
-
Description
A classic with a wealth of information on the plants, but poor on pictures.
,
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
]. Grows well in heavy clay soils.
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[
1
Title
RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956
Publication
 
Author
F. Chittendon.
Publisher
Oxford University Press
Year
1951
ISBN
-
Description
Comprehensive listing of species and how to grow them. Somewhat outdated, it has been replaced in 1992 by a new dictionary (see [200]).
].
Plants can be pruned back quite severely and resprout well from the base[
200
Title
The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992.
Publication
 
Author
Huxley. A.
Publisher
MacMillan Press
Year
1992
ISBN
0-333-47494-5
Description
Excellent and very comprehensive, though it contains a number of silly mistakes. Readable yet also very detailed.
].
Some Berberis species (especially Berberis vulgaris) harbour the black stem-rust fungus (Puccinia graminis Persoon). This is a major disease of wheat and barley crops and can spread from infected barberries to the grain crop. The sale or transport of susceptible or untested species of Berberis is illegal in the United States and Canada[
270
Title
Flora of N. America
Publication
 
Author
 
Website
http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/
Publisher
 
Year
0
ISBN
 
Description
An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses.
]. We have no data on susceptibility for this species[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked[
1156
Title
Mineral Elements, Phenolics and Organic Acids of Leaves and Fruits from Berberis crataegina DC.
Publication
Asian Journal of Chemistry Vol 23 No. 7 (2011) 3071-2074
Author
Serkan Gülsoy, Gulcan Ozkan, Kürşad Özkan
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
 
Description
Research paper on the medicinal and health-promoting compounds in Berberis crataegina
]. A delicious astringent and sourish flavour[
1156
Title
Mineral Elements, Phenolics and Organic Acids of Leaves and Fruits from Berberis crataegina DC.
Publication
Asian Journal of Chemistry Vol 23 No. 7 (2011) 3071-2074
Author
Serkan Gülsoy, Gulcan Ozkan, Kürşad Özkan
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
 
Description
Research paper on the medicinal and health-promoting compounds in Berberis crataegina
]. The fruit is used to make juices, marmalades and jellies. In Turkey they are often sun-dried and then used as a snack food. The ripe fruit varies from dark purple to black

Medicinal

The fruits are antioxidant, diuretic, expectorant and febrifuge[
1157
Title
The fruit extract of Berberis crataegina DC: exerts potent antioxidant activity and protects DNA integrity
Publication
DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Author
Mohammad Charehsaz; Hande Sipahi et al
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
2008-2231
Description
 
]. The fruit paste has been used to increase stamina and in particular to maintain healthy cardiovascular function[
1157
Title
The fruit extract of Berberis crataegina DC: exerts potent antioxidant activity and protects DNA integrity
Publication
DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Author
Mohammad Charehsaz; Hande Sipahi et al
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
2008-2231
Description
 
].

The roots and root bark are analgesic, antiinflammatory, appetizer, febrifuge and tonic. They are used as a treatment against various ailments including jaundice, haemorrhoids, dysuria and feverish conditions[
1157
Title
The fruit extract of Berberis crataegina DC: exerts potent antioxidant activity and protects DNA integrity
Publication
DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Author
Mohammad Charehsaz; Hande Sipahi et al
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
2008-2231
Description
 
].
An aqueous extract of the bark is reported to be used to treat rheumatism and fever[
1157
Title
The fruit extract of Berberis crataegina DC: exerts potent antioxidant activity and protects DNA integrity
Publication
DARU Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences
Author
Mohammad Charehsaz; Hande Sipahi et al
Publisher
 
Year
2015
ISBN
2008-2231
Description
 
].

The leaves, fnıits and roots are antimicrobial, antihistaminic, anticholinergic, antiinflammatory and vasodilator. They have been used in the treatment of liver and gastrointestinal disorders such as enteritis and diarrhoea[
1156
Title
Mineral Elements, Phenolics and Organic Acids of Leaves and Fruits from Berberis crataegina DC.
Publication
Asian Journal of Chemistry Vol 23 No. 7 (2011) 3071-2074
Author
Serkan Gülsoy, Gulcan Ozkan, Kürşad Özkan
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
 
Description
Research paper on the medicinal and health-promoting compounds in Berberis crataegina
].

The alkaloid berberine, which is universally present in the roots and stems of Berberis species, has marked antibacterial effects. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].
It should not be used in combination with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].
Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[
218
Title
Medicinal Plants of China
Publication
 
Author
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S.
Publisher
Reference Publications, Inc.
Year
1985
ISBN
0-917256-20-4
Description
Details of over 1,200 medicinal plants of China and brief details of their uses. Often includes an analysis, or at least a list of constituents. Heavy going if you are not into the subject.
].

Other Uses

The fresh and dried roots and bark are the source of a dye[
1156
Title
Mineral Elements, Phenolics and Organic Acids of Leaves and Fruits from Berberis crataegina DC.
Publication
Asian Journal of Chemistry Vol 23 No. 7 (2011) 3071-2074
Author
Serkan Gülsoy, Gulcan Ozkan, Kürşad Özkan
Publisher
 
Year
2011
ISBN
 
Description
Research paper on the medicinal and health-promoting compounds in Berberis crataegina
]. Probably a yellow dye[
K
Title
Plants for a Future
Author
Ken Fern
Description
Notes from observations, tasting etc at Plants For A Future and on field trips.
].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[
80
Title
Hardy Woody Plants from Seed.
Publication
 
Author
McMillan-Browse. P.
Publisher
Grower Books
Year
1985
ISBN
0-901361-21-6
Description
Does not deal with many species but it is very comprehensive on those that it does cover. Not for casual reading.
]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[
113
Title
The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation.
Publication
 
Author
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W.
Publisher
Athens Ga. Varsity Press
Year
1987
ISBN
0942375009
Description
A very detailed book on propagating trees. Not for the casual reader.
]. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame. If growth is sufficient, it can be possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the autumn, but generally it is best to leave them in the cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, mid summer in a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, preferably with a heel, autumn in a frame[
78
Title
Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers.
Publication
 
Author
Sheat. W. G.
Publisher
MacMillan and Co
Year
1948
ISBN
-
Description
A bit dated but a good book on propagation techniques with specific details for a wide range of plants.
].
Cite as: Temperate Plants Database, Ken Fern. temperate.theferns.info. 2024-03-28. <temperate.theferns.info/plant/Berberis+crataegina>

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