Berberidaceae FAMILY

Berberis ulicina

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 ulicina is a spiny, deciduous shrub growing up to 100cm 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 local use as a food, and probably also as a medicine.

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeE. Asia - northern India, Nepal and Tibet.

HabitatOpen windy slopes; at elevations from 2,500 - 3,500 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. ]. Slopes, floodlands, mixed forests, streamsides; at elevations from 2,500 - 3,700 metres in western China[ 66 Title From Agar to Zenery. Publication Author Freethy. R. Publisher The Crowood Press Year 1985 ISBN 0-946284-51-2 Description Very readable, giving details on plant uses based on the authors own experiences. ]. Dry stony places; at elevations from 4,200 - 4,800 metres[ 506 Title The Flora of British India. (in 7 volumes) Publication Author Hooker J.D. Website http://www.biodiversitylibrary.org Publisher L.Reeve & Co.; London Year 1872 - 1897 ISBN Description Rather dated, but has some information on plant uses. It can be downloaded from the Internet. ].