Berberidaceae FAMILY

Berberis chitria

Edibility

2/5

Medicinal

2/5

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 chitria is an erect, spiny, evergreen shrub that branches freely from the base; it can grow up to 5 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 plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a medicine and a food. It is sometimes grown as an ornamental in gardens.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - Himalayas.

HabitatMainly in moist places; at elevations from 2,000 - 3,000 metres in Nepal[ 272 Title Plants and People of Nepal Publication Author Manandhar. N. P. Publisher Timber Press. Oregon. Year 2002 ISBN 0-88192-527-6 Description Excellent book, covering over 1,500 species of useful plants from Nepal together with information on the geography and peoples of Nepal. Good descriptions of the plants with terse notes on their uses. ].