Berberidaceae FAMILY

Mahonia duclouxiana

Edibility

2/5

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 duclouxiana is an evergreen shrub growing 150 - 400cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine. It is sold for medicinal use in local markets in China[ 1153 Title The medicinal uses of the genus Mahonia in traditional Chinese medicine: An ethnopharmacological, phytochemical and Publication Journal of Ethnopharmacology, 175 , September 2015 pp 668-683 Author Jian-Ming He, Qing Mu Website http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jep.2015.09.013 Publisher Year 2016 ISBN 0378-8741 Description A review of the medicinal uses of the genus Mahonia in China. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - Southern China (Guangxi, Sichuan, Yunnan), India, Myanmar, Thailand

HabitatRocky, partially shaded crevices on limestone soils[ 260 Title Conservatory and Indoor Plants Volumes 1 & 2 Publication Author Phillips. R. & Rix. M. Publisher Pan Books, London. Year 1998 ISBN 0-330-37376-5 Description Excellent photos of over 1,100 species and cultivars with habits and cultivation details plus a few plant uses. Many species are too tender for outdoors in Britain though there are many that can be grown outside. ]. Forests, thickets, roadsides, in light shade, dry slopes; at elevations from 1,800 - 2,700 metres[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ].