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Berberis
vulgaris L.
Standardized Common
Name: Barberry
Other Common Name: European Barberry
Family: Berberidaceae
Taxonomy: Berberis
includes about 500 species, distributed almost worldwide. Berberis vulgaris is one of
two species native to Europe. It was widely cultivated and naturalized in North
America also, but because it is an alternate host for a pathogenic fungus of
wheat, eradication programs have greatly reduced its occurence.
Description: Shrub, (0.3–)1–3 m
high; most of leaves on long shoots reduced to spines; spines often 3-lobed;
bark gray. Foliage leaves deciduous, mostly clustered on short shoots, 1–6 cm
long, elliptical to somewhat obovate; texture usually thin and flexible; base
attenuate; apex rounded to obtuse; margins usually serrate, with teeth
spine-tipped; both surfaces dull, the upper somewhat glaucous. Inflorescences
racemose, lateral (technically terminal on very short shoots), (1–)3–6 cm long,
10–30-flowered. Flowers yellow; sepals 6, quickly lost, 3–6 mm long; petals 6,
3–6 mm long, producing nectar; stamens 6; ovary compound, 1-styled. Fruit a
berry, red to purple or black, oblong, 5–11 mm long, 2-seeded.
Parts
in Commerce:
Bark (fruit and roots also have traditional uses)
Identification:
- Small flat or
curved pieces, mostly <1 cm broad
- 0.5–2.0 mm thick
- Outer surface
dark yellowish-gray, longitudinally furrowed, in older bark becoming
fissured and scaly, sometimes with small black lichenous spots
- Inner surface
dark yellow to brown, glistening, longitudinally striated and fibrous,
often with attached fragments of yellow wood
- Fracture short
in outer portion, fibrous and laminated in inner portion
- In transverse
section, has thin cork and cortex, thicker brown phloem containing yellow
parenchyma rays
- Taste bitter
- Chewing colors
saliva yellow
References:
Akeroyd JR, Webb DA. Berberis. In: Tutin TG, Heywood VH, Burges NA, et al.,
eds. Flora Europaea. 2nd ed., vol. 1. Cambridge:
Cambridge University Press; 1993:295–296.
British Herbal Medicine
Association. British Herbal Pharmacopoeia. BHMA; 1996:32.
Greenish HG. Materia Medica. Jodhpur: Scientific Publishers (India); 1920
reprinted 1999:235.
Whittemore AT. Berberis. In: Flora of North
America Editorial Committee, eds. Flora of North America, vol. 3.
New York, NY: Oxford University Press; 1997:276–286.
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