Mahonia nervosa
Annoying Oregon grape ( Mahonia nervosa )
The Annoying Oregon grape ( Mahonia nervosa ) is a plant from the family of Barberry ( Berberidaceae ). The original distribution area covers the western North America from British Columbia to the north, over Washington, Oregon and Idaho to California to the south. The German name of the species refers to the highly visible veins.
Description
The Annoying Oregon grape grows as evergreen shrub that can reach heights of growth of 0.1 to 2 meters. The branches do not form axial shoots. The hairless bark is colored brown to yellow-brown with two-year branches.
The bud is composed of 1.3 to 4.4 cm long bud scales. The change-constant leaves are odd pinnate and consist of 9 to 21 leaflets that are on a 2-11 inch long blade spindle. The simple, thin and more or less flexible leaf blade with a length from 2.9 to 8.4 inches and a width of 1.2 to 4.8 centimeters lanceolate - ovate to ovate. The leaf blade has a rounded to wedge-shaped Spreitenbasis and a pointed to wide end. From the main nerve of the leaves go four to six pairs of lateral nerves from. The flat blade edges have 6-13 thorny teeth. The upper leaf surface is dull blue-green, while the smooth leaf surface is dull.
The flowering period extends from March to June. The racemose inflorescences are 6 to 17 inches long and consist of 30 to 70 yellow single flowers. The berry fruits are globose to oblong- ovate with a size of 8 to 11 mm. At maturity they are blue or blue- green colored.
The chromosome number is 2n = 56
Distribution and occurrence
The natural range of the annoying Oregon grape is located in western North America. It extends from British Columbia to the north, over Washington, Oregon and Idaho to California to the south. It is mainly used in open or closed forests that grow on rocky substrates before. They are found from sea level to altitudes of 1800 meters.
System
The first description as Berberis nervosa was made in 1813 by Frederick Traugott Pursh in Flora Americae Septentrionalis; or,. . . 1, pp. 219-220, pl. 5 Thomas Nuttall on led the way in 1818 in The Genera of North American Plants 1, p 212 in the genus Mahonia.
A synonym for Mahonia nervosa ( Pursh ) groove. is Odostemon nervosus ( Pursh ) Rydb ..
Use
This type is used as an ornamental shrub in gardens and parks. It is frost hardy. Its fruits can be eaten both raw and cooked. From the inner bark of stems and roots, a yellow dye can be extracted from the fruit while a dark green, purple or dark blue - purple dye can be extracted.
Preparations obtained from the root have a tonic and digestive properties and can be used to treat psoriasis, syphilis and poor blood values. A film made from debarked root decoction was formerly used in the treatment of arthritis as well against red eyes. The fruits have a laxative effect. As with all mahonias also contains the rhizome of the annoying Mahonie berberine, which has an antibacterial and tonic effect.
Swell
- Alan T. Whittemore: Berberidaceae. Berberis. In: Flora of North America Editorial Committee ( eds.): Flora of North America North of Mexico. Magnoliidae and Hamamelidae. Volume 3, Oxford University Press, New York et al 1997, ISBN 0-19-511246-6, Berberis nervosa, p.21 ( this work is the same text online, Berberis nervous - Online).