Berberis lycium
a perennial woody evergreen member of the Berberis genus in the family Berberidaceae.
Taxonomy and growth
- Family
- Berberidaceae
- Genus
- Berberis
- Life cycle
- perennial
- Foliage
- evergreen
- Woodiness
- woody
- Growth rate
- moderate
- Height
- 3 m
- Fertility
- Self fertile, Insects, Self
- Flower type
- hermaphrodite
- Pollinators
- Insects, Self
Uses
Edible uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Fruit - raw or cooked and made into preserves[9][3][2][7][8]. Fairly juicy with a nice slightly acid flavour[K]. The fruits are about 8mm long[10]. Leaves and young shoots - cooked[9][7][8]. Leaves are a tea substitute[7][8].
- Plant part
- Fruit
- Plant part
- Leaves
- Product or use
- Tea
Medicinal uses
Historical medicinal uses. These records describe reported uses. They do not establish safety or effectiveness. Ask a qualified health professional before using any plant medicinally.
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
The roots are aperient, carminative, febrifuge and ophthalmic[3][13][16][6][12]. They are used in the treatment of eye complaints, menorrhagia, chronic diarrhoea and piles[12]. The leaves have been used in the treatment of jaundice[12]. Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Berberis species, has marked antibacterial effects. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery[11]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[11]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[11].
- Product or use
- Antibacterial
- Product or use
- Aperient
- Product or use
- Cancer
- Product or use
- Carminative
- Product or use
- Febrifuge
- Product or use
- Ophthalmic
Material uses
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
A yellow dye is obtained from the root.
- Product or use
- Dye
Environment
- Range
- E. Asia - Himalayas
- Habitat
- Shrubberies and open hillsides[14][17], usually on hot dry slopes[5], to 3000 metres. in Kashmir[15].
- Light
- full sun
- Shade tolerance
- light shade
- Water
- moderate
- Hardiness
- Zone 6+
- Soil textures
- sandy, loamy, clay, heavy clay
- Soil pH
- acid, neutral, alkaline
- Tolerates Nutritionally Poor Soil
- No
- Drought
- intolerant
Propagation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[18]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[18], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[19]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[4]. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame. If growth is sufficient, it can be possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the autumn, but generally it is best to leave them in the cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year. Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame. Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, preferably with a heel, October/November in a frame[18].
Cultivation
This section contains historical Plants For A Future notes marked noncommercial.
Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[3][10]. Grows well in heavy clay soils. A fairly hardy plant but it suffers some damage in severe winters[1]. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[1]. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base[10].
References
F. Chittendon. RHS Dictionary of Plants plus Supplement. 1956 Oxford University Press 1951-00-00
Tanaka. T. Tanaka's Cyclopaedia of Edible Plants of the World. Keigaku Publishing 1976-00-00
Bean. W. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Vol 1 - 4 and Supplement. Murray 1981-00-00
Dirr. M. A. and Heuser. M. W. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press 1987-00-00 ISBN 0942375009
Gamble. J. S. A Manual of Indian Timbers. Bishen Singh Mahendra Pal Singh 1972-00-00
Gupta. B. L. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press 1945-00-00
Kunkel. G. Plants for Human Consumption. Koeltz Scientific Books 1984-00-00 ISBN 3874292169
Facciola. S. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications 1990-00-00 ISBN 0-9628087-0-9
Hedrick. U. P. Sturtevant's Edible Plants of the World. Dover Publications 1972-00-00 ISBN 0-486-20459-6
Huxley. A. The New RHS Dictionary of Gardening. 1992. MacMillan Press 1992-00-00 ISBN 0-333-47494-5
Duke. J. A. and Ayensu. E. S. Medicinal Plants of China Reference Publications, Inc. 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-917256-20-4
Chopra. R. N., Nayar. S. L. and Chopra. I. C. Glossary of Indian Medicinal Plants (Including the Supplement). Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, New Delhi. 1986-00-00
Uphof. J. C. Th. Dictionary of Economic Plants. Weinheim 1959-00-00
Polunin. O. and Stainton. A. Flowers of the Himalayas. Oxford Universtiy Press 1984-00-00
Schery. R. W. Plants for Man.
Usher. G. A Dictionary of Plants Used by Man. Constable 1974-00-00 ISBN 0094579202
Ahrendt. Berberis and Mahonia. Journal of the Linnean Society, 57 1961-00-00
Sheat. W. G. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. MacMillan and Co 1948-00-00
McMillan-Browse. P. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books 1985-00-00 ISBN 0-901361-21-6