Berberis microphylla
Shrubby barberry, Tierra del Fuego National Park, Argentina
The Shrubby barberry (Berberis microphylla ) ( Syn: .. Berberis buxifolia Lam ex Poir ) is a shrub with book-like leaves. It belongs to the family of Barberry ( Berberidaceae ). This species was described in 1787 by Johann Georg Adam Forster.
Description
The evergreen shrub reaches stature heights of up to 3 meters. Young branches are covered with fine hairs, older branches are bare. The bark of the branches is light brown, yellowish or gray and has longitudinal cracks and numerous black dots; of age, the bark can be fibrous to flaky. The numerous spines are three parts, the thorn branches are 3 to 45 millimeters long.
The leathery book-like leaves are ovate to ovate - lanceolate, rarely elliptic or simply elongate; They are 6-40 mm long and 2-14 mm wide. The leaves are stalked 1.5 to 5 millimeters long, mucronate, entire or with 1-2 spine protruding sharp teeth on each side. The point of attachment of the leaf remains after leaf fall, on some occasions as a small stump.
The inflorescence is a single flower (rarely a two- to three umbel ). The flower stems are 5 to 24 millimeters long, the individual flowers are yellow to orange- yellow, 4-5 mm long and contain 12 to 15 tepals. The spherical blue-black berries have a diameter of 7 to 11 mm, which are 1 to 10 seeds 4-6 mm long and black to brown.
The Shrubby barberry blooms in southern South America from August to March ( with an emphasis October to January ) and fruiting mainly from December to March.
Dissemination
The Shrubby barberry, in their home Mihai, mulun or Calafate called, is spread by the Región del Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins in Central Chile in 2500 m NN to Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina and Chile, where it grows at sea level. It should be a symbol of Patagonia; a legend is to say that anyone who eats berries of this shrub, is determined to return to Patagonia. Berberis microphylla benefits from interventions in nature and grows particularly well in disturbed habitats and along roads.
Use
The Shrubby barberry is commercially grown for their fruit, they can be used for jam preparation. You will also attributed healing properties. In addition, it is also planted as a garden plant or bonsai. The wood is used for the production of a red dye.
Cultivated forms
- Berberis buxifolia 'Nana' ( syn. Berberis dulcis Sweet var nana Carr. ): This species is in cultivation since 1867. It takes place in the garden and landscaping as a groundcover use. The plants are slow-growing, m wide only to 0.5 m high and up to 0.8; they have ( almost) no thorns and blossom rarely or not at all.
- The hybrids Berberis × Anthony (B. buxifolia × B. darwinii ) was grown in Northern Ireland; it grows as a small, compact shrub.
- Natural hybrids with Berberis Berberis Valdiviana and trigonal are known.
Synonyms
Berberis microphylla is a very variable species, which is why there are many synonyms. Most common is sure Berberis buxifolia. This name was described in 1792 by Lamarck, five years after the description of Berberis microphylla Forster was published, which is why the name Berberis microphylla is to give the preference.
- Berberis inermis pers.
- Berberis heterophylla Juss. ex Poir.
- Berberis cuneata DC.
- Berberis dulcis Sweet.
- Berberis marginata Gay
- Berberis buxifolia var spinosissima Rich
- Berberis spinosissima ( Rich ) Ahrendt
- Berberis heterophylla var pluriflora Rich
- Berberis buxifolia var gracilior Albov
- Berberis buxifolia var papillosa C.K.Schneid.
- Berberis buxifolia var nuda C.K.Schneid.
- Berberis buxifolia var antarctica C.K.Schneid.
- Berberis antucoana C.K.Schneid.
- Berberis buxifolia var antucoana ( CKSchneid. ) Orsi
- Berberis parodii job
- Berberis Michay job
- Berberis barilochensis job