Mahonia aquifolium

Mahonia aquifolium

The Ordinary Oregon grape Oregon grape or Stechdornblättrige ( Mahonia aquifolium) is an evergreen Strauchart from the kind of mahonias in the family of Barberry Family ( Berberidaceae ). The species name aquifolium is composed of the Latin words acus = peak and folium = leaf and it indicates to the tips of the leaf margins. For the Ordinary Mahonia aquifolium Berberis sometimes the synonym used. Originally from western North America and is to be found in Europe as ornamental tree and wild.

Description

The Ordinary Oregon grape is an evergreen. It grows as a bushy upright vieltriebiger unreinforced shrub, reaching heights of growth to about 1.8 meters. The leather-hard, up to 30 cm long leaves are pinnate. The leaves are up to 8 inches long and sit at 5-13 on the blade spindle. They are glossy dark green, hand dyed brighter, its edge is badly curled part and each hand set with 10 to 20 teeth sting. The leaves are sometimes dyed deep bronze-red in winter.

The flowers are crowded yellow and sometimes red; form March to June dense, erect, up to 8 inches high, standing together to 3-4 grapes. The hermaphrodite flowers are in threes, have golden yellow petals and fragrant. As with other Berberitzengewächsen you can study at the ordinary Mahonie the rare mechanism of irritable stamens, giving baste about when touched by an insect explosively fast in the direction of the scar and thus its pollen on the visitor.

As of August are formed as spherical fruits, purple-black, bluish frosted, good pea-sized berries with two to five red-brown seeds. The berries are edible and taste strongly acidic; they have a dark red juice.

The Oregon grape is confused because of the external resemblance occasionally with the European Holly ( Ilex aquifolium).

Dissemination

The original range of the ordinary Oregon grape is located in western North America from British Columbia in Canada to the U.S. state of Oregon. There the Ordinary Oregon grape is the official state flower ( " Oregon grape "). Today they are also found cultivated and wild in Central Europe; particularly in France it is widely used as a neophyte. The Ordinary Oregon grape growing both in sunny and in partially shaded locations, mainly in urban gardens and parklands.

Propagation

Propagation is mainly vegetatively by underground runners, cuttings or by animals spreading of the seeds.

Use

The plant can not be utilized easily as most parts of the plant are poisonous. The roots contain up to 1.5% berberine and various other alkaloids. The alkaloid content of the berries is about 0.05 %; they are edible and can be used for example for the preparation of jams and fruit wines.

In the literature, there are notes on the medicinal use of plant extracts, especially of berberine contained therein to combat dandruff and psoriasis, and possibly acne. The extract of bark and root is recommended in traditional literature and in homeopathy for skin rash. Studies show a positive effect. The plant has been in the early spring (from March ) and thus represents an early nectar and pollen for bees and bumble costume

System

From the ordinary Oregon grape variety cultivated forms are known, for example, the varieties ' Apollo ', ' Atropurpurea ', ' Emerald ' and ' Compacta'.

With the Little Oregon grape ( Mahonia fortunei ) is the Ordinary Oregon grape Mahonia × heterophylla the hybrids.

With the Fiederblättrigen Oregon grape ( Mahonia pinnata ) the Ordinary is the Oregon grape Oregon grape hybrids Wagner ( Mahonia × wagneri ).

With different barberry Mahonia species, the Common forms various types of hybrid genus Berberitzenmahonie ( × Mahoberberis ).