Berberis amurensis

Rupr.

Berberidaceae Edible: Fruit, Leaves 400 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Berberis amurensis, commonly known as Amur barberry, is a shrub native to Japan, Korea, the Russian Far East, and parts of China (Gansu, Hebei, Heilongjiang, Henan, Jilin, Liaoning, Nei Mongol, Shaanxi, Shandong, Shanxi). It is named for the Amur River, which forms part of the boundary between Russia and China. It is found at elevations of 1100–2900 m. Berberis amurensis is a shrub up to 350 cm tall with spines up to 20 mm long on the smaller branches. Leaves are elliptical, paper-thin, up to 10 cm long. Flowers are borne in groups of up to 25. Berries are red, oblong, about 10 mm long.

Description

A shrub. It loses its leaves during the year. It grows 2-3.5 tall. It has spines. The leaves are 5-10 cm long by 3-5 cm wide. They are pale green underneath. There are 10-25 flowers in a group. These are 4-10 cm long. The fruit is a red berry 10 mm long by 6 mm wide.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Leaves Edible Uses: Fruit - cooked. Used in preserves. The oblong fruit is about 10mm long. Leaves. No more details.

Medicinal Uses

Antibacterial Antirheumatic Cancer Dysentery The root is antirheumatic. 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. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity.

Distribution

It is a temperate plant. It grows on the edges of forests and along streams between 1,100-2,900 m above sea level in north China.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China, Japan, Korea, Manchuria, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia,

Cultivation

Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. This species is closely allied to B. vulgaris, it hybridizes freely with other members of the genus. There are some named forms selected for their ornamental value. Plants can be pruned back quite severely and will resprout well from the base.

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate, whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated. 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. Layering.

Other Uses

Hedge Hedge Plants are very amenable to trimming and can be grown as an almost impenetrable formal or informal hedge. Special Uses Hedge Hedge

Notes

There are about 450-500 Berberis species.

Synonyms

B. vulgaris amurensis.

References (3)

Bull. Cl. Phys.-Math. Acad. Imp. Sci. Saint-Petersbourg 15:260. 1857
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
Urgamal, M., Oyuntsetseg, B., Nyambayar, D. & Dulamsuren, Ch. 2014. Conspectus of the vascular plants of Mongolia. (Editors: Sanchir, Ch. & Jamsran, Ts.). Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia. “Admon“ Press. 334pp. (p. 79-90).