Berberidaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Berberis asiatica

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

Berberis asiatica is an erect, spiny, deciduous to evergreen shrub that is freely branched from the base; it can grow up to 4 metres tall[ 1100 Title A Revision of Berberis ss (Berberidaceae) in Nepal Publication Edinburgh Journal of Botany, 69 , pp 447522 Author B. Adhikari, C. A. Pendry, R. T. Pennington and R. I. Milne Publisher Year 2012 ISBN Description A comprehensive revision of the Barberry species in Nepal, reducing a number of previously accepted species to synonymy and describing two new species. ]. The fruits are often harvested from the wild for use as a food - they are said to be the best species in India for making raisins. The plant is also used medicinally and for fencing. It is grown as an ornamental in gardens. It is proposed that the plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2016)[ 1100 Title A Revision of Berberis ss (Berberidaceae) in Nepal Publication Edinburgh Journal of Botany, 69 , pp 447522 Author B. Adhikari, C. A. Pendry, R. T. Pennington and R. I. Milne Publisher Year 2012 ISBN Description A comprehensive revision of the Barberry species in Nepal, reducing a number of previously accepted species to synonymy and describing two new species. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - Himalayas (Nepal)

HabitatShrubberies, grassy and rocky slopes; at elevations up to 2,500 metres[ 51 Title Flowers of the Himalayas. Publication Author Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Publisher Oxford Universtiy Press Year 1984 ISBN - Description A very readable and good pocket guide (if you have a very large pocket!) to many of the wild plants in the Himalayas. Gives many examples of plant uses. ]. Found in heavy shade, on north-facing slopes[ 67 Title Berberis and Mahonia. Publication Author Ahrendt. Publisher Journal of the Linnean Society, 57 Year 1961 ISBN - Description Not for the casual reader, it lists all the known species in these two genera together with botanic descriptions and other relevant details for the botanist. ] and on open hillsides in the drier areas[ 146 Title A Manual of Indian Timbers. Publication Author Gamble. J. S. Publisher Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh Year 1972 ISBN - Description First written in the 19th century, but still a classic, giving a lot of information on the uses and habitats of Indian trees. Not for the casual reader. ].