Berberis empetrifolia
Lam.
Berberidaceae
Berberis cuneata K.Koch
Berberis mutabilis Phil.
Berberis revoluta Sm. ex DC.
Berberis wawrana C.K.Schneid.
Common Name:
General Information
Berberis empetrifolia is a low, spreading, spiny, evergreem shrub that grows up to 50cm tall[
679- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 86
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Among many articles on botany, is a treatment of the genus Beilschmiedia.
].
The plant is often harvested from the wild for local use as a food. It is sometimes cultivated as a fruit plant in home gardens in Chile[
], and is also grown as an ornamental in gardens. It is a parent of several ornamental hybrids.
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
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.
,
67- Title
- Berberis and Mahonia.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Ahrendt.
- Publisher
- Journal of the Linnean Society, 57
- Year
- 1961
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- Not for the casual reader, it lists all the known species in these two genera together with botanic descriptions and other relevant details for the botanist.
,
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.
Range
S. America - southern Argentina, southern Chile.
Habitat
Rocky slopes in the high Andes in the north of its range, wind-blown pampa in Aisen, and sandy beaches along the Strait of Magellan; at elevations from sea level in the very south of its range, ascending to 3,000 metres in the north[
679- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 86
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Among many articles on botany, is a treatment of the genus Beilschmiedia.
]..
Properties
Edibility Rating | |
Medicinal Rating | |
Habit | Evergreen Shrub |
Height | 0.30 m |
Pollinators | Insects, Self |
Self-fertile | Yes |
Cultivation Status | Cultivated, Ornamental, Wild |
Cultivation Details
Plants are well-adapted to cold, harsh environments and are hardy to about -15°c[
184- Title
- Shrubs.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Phillips. R. & Rix. M.
- Publisher
- Pan Books
- Year
- 1989
- ISBN
- 0-330-30258-2
- Description
- Excellent photographs and a terse description of 1,900 species and cultivars.
,
679- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 86
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Among many articles on botany, is a treatment of the genus Beilschmiedia.
].
Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is 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, especially with Berberis montana and Berberis grevilleana.[
679- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 86
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Among many articles on botany, is a treatment of the genus Beilschmiedia.
].
Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they 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.
]. This species has been found to be susceptible to the disease[
].
Edible Uses
Fruit - raw or cooked[
2- Title
- Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Hedrick. U. P.
- Publisher
- Dover Publications
- Year
- 1972
- ISBN
- 0-486-20459-6
- Description
- Lots of entries, quite a lot of information in most entries and references.
,
69- Title
- Flora of Tierra del Fuego.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Moore. D. M.
- Publisher
- Anthony Nelson.
- Year
- 1983
- ISBN
- 0-904614-05-0
- Description
- Standard work for this part of S. America. Excellent details of habitat and a few notes on plant uses.
,
105- Title
- Tanaka's Cyclopedia of Edible Plants of the World.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Tanaka. T. & Nakao S.
- Publisher
- Keigaku Publishing; Tokyo
- Year
- 1976
- ISBN
- -
- Description
- The most comprehensive list of edible plants I've come across. Only the briefest entry for each species, though, and some of the entries are more than a little dubious. Not for the casual reader.
,
177- Title
- Plants for Human Consumption.
- Publication
-
- Author
- Kunkel. G.
- Publisher
- Koeltz Scientific Books
- Year
- 1984
- ISBN
- 3874292169
- Description
- An excellent book for the dedicated. A comprehensive listing of Latin names with a brief list of edible parts.
]. An acid flavour, they can be eaten raw or preserved as a jam[
]. The black, sub-globose berries are 4 - 7mm long[
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.
,
679- Title
- Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden. Volume 86
- Publication
-
- Author
-
- Website
- http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org
- Publisher
- Missouri Botanical Garden
- Year
- 1999
- ISBN
-
- Description
- Among many articles on botany, is a treatment of the genus Beilschmiedia.
].
Medicinal
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 roots and stems of all Berberis species contain alkaloids and, when cut open, are a strong yellow colour. This has been utilized by various cultures to make a yellow dye for cloth etc[
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[
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.
,
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.
]. Pot up in the spring[
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.
].
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.
].
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