Common Name:

General Information

Berberis ruscifolia is a deciduous shrub
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and dye.

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

Range

S. America - Argentina, Brazil, Uruguay.

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Deciduous Shrub
Height	0.00 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Berberis ruscifolia is found in the warm temperate to subtropical region of Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. It has been grown successfully outdoors at Oxford Botanical Gardens in Enland where frosts are regularly observed in winter and temperatures can go below -10c at times[, ].
Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[11 200]. Grows well in heavy clay soils.
Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base[].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
This species is closely related to Berberis illicifolia[].
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[]. We have no data on susceptibility for this species[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - cooked. Somewhat bitter[].

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[].
It should not be used in combination with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[].
Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the root[].

A black ink is obtained from the fruit.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[]. 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[].