Berberidaceae FAMILY

Mahonia repens

Edibility

3/5

Medicinal

3/5

Safety & Hazards

All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid berberine - this is most concentrated in the roots, stems and inner bark, and least concentrated in the fruits. In small quantities berberine has a range of effective medicinal applications but, in excess, can cause vomiting, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lethargy, and other ill-effects. The fruit of most, if not all, members of this genus are more or less edible and can be eaten in quantity since the levels of berberine in the fruit are very low.

Botanical Description

Mahonia repens is an evergreen shrub usually growing 2 - 20cm tall, occasionally to 60cm. Suckering at the base, the plant forms a loose cluster of usually unbranched stems, though sometimes with short axillary shoots[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food and a medicine. It is suitable for use in soil stabilization projects and is grown as an ornamental, where it can be used as a ground cover in shady situations.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeWestern N. America - British Colombia and southwest Alberta to North Dakota, south to northern California, Arizona and New Mexico.

HabitatHills and slopes, often in partial shade[ 85 Title Edible Native Plants of the Rocky Mountains. Publication Author Harrington. H. D. Publisher University of New Mexico Press Year 1967 ISBN 0-8623-0343-9 Description A superb book. Very readable, it gives the results of the authors experiments with native edible plants. ], usually on dry slopes[ 155 Title Flowers of the Southwest Mountains. Publication Author Arnberger. L. P. Publisher Southwestern Monuments Ass. Year 1968 ISBN - Description A lovely little pocket guide to wild plants in the southern Rockies of America. ]. Open forest, shrubland, and grassland; at elevations from 200 - 3,000 metres[ 270 Title Flora of N. America Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/fna/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description An on-line version of the flora with an excellent description of the plant including a brief mention of plant uses. ].