Berberis glaucocarpa
Species of flowering plant
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Berberis glaucocarpa, sometimes called common barberry[1] or simply barberry,[2] is a species of flowering plant, a barberry, native to the western Himalaya in central Asia, to west central Nepal.[3] It is considered invasive in New Zealand, where it is found in the North and South Island.[4][5][2] It has also been introduced to Great Britain.[3] The species is listed as banned in South Africa.[6]
| Berberis glaucocarpa | |
|---|---|
| |
| B. glaucocarpa in Tasman, New Zealand | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Embryophytes |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Spermatophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Berberis |
| Species: | B. glaucocarpa |
| Binomial name | |
| Berberis glaucocarpa | |
Description
This species is glabrous, evergreen, woody,[4] and has thorns. It can grow to up to 7m in height. The leaves have a short petiole. The flowers are yellow and foetid. The berries are reddish-black or purple with white powder on them, with dark red juice. It flowers from October to November in New Zealand,[7] and fruits until February.[2] In Pakistan, it fruits from September through October.[8]
In New Zealand, this species can be distinguished from Darwin's barberry, which has dark purple berries, and European barberry, which has red.[4] The tripartite spines that grow up to 2.5cm long, and the large spiny leaves and the very large possible height are also useful characteristics.[2]
Range and habitat
Ecology
This plant is sometimes used as a hedge plant,[4] although it has the potential to spread into fields and deter livestock, and although it may inhibit growth of native plants.[10]
The fruits are spread by birds and mammals,[2] including brush-tailed possums[10] and rodents.[11][6] The birds which most often spread this plant in New Zealand are themselves exotic frugivores, namely Silvereyes (which self-introduced from Australia), Song Thrush, Common Blackbird, and Common Starling.[10] New Zealand Bellbirds ignore barberry fruits.[12]
Puccinia graminis, a rust fungus, has also been found on this species, during a study to determine fungal pathogens that could be used to control barberry spread in New Zealand.[13]
Goats will eat the plant, if it is up to 2m in height.[14]
Humans in Pakistan also eat the fruit, but only in passing.[8]