Berberis gagnepainii

Schneid.

Gagnepain's barberry

Berberidaceae Edible: Fruit 29 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

Berberis gagnepainii, or Gagnepain's barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, first described in 1908. It is endemic to China, known from Guizhou, Hubei, Sichuan, and Yunnan Provinces. Berberis gagnepainii is a shrub up to 2 m tall. The leaves are evergreen, simple, lanceolate to elliptical, toothed, the teeth tipped with short spines. The leaves and flowers are borne on short shoots in the axils of 3-parted spines. The inflorescence is a fascicle of 2-15 yellow flowers. The berries are glaucous (waxy), dark blue-black and oblong. Its habitats include montane thickets as well as forest margins and understories. Its name is dedicated to François Gagnepain.

Description

An evergreen shrub. It grows 1.5 m tall and spreads 1.8 m wide. It is small and dense. The leaves are narrow and wavy. They are 7.5 cm long. The flowers are yellow. They are 1 cm across. The fruit are black. They are 0.5 cm long. Several named varieties have been selected.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. The fruits are about 10mm long.

Medicinal Uses

Antibacterial Cancer Dysentery 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. In is best in light well-drained soil. It needs an open sunny position. It is resistant to drought and frost. It suits hardiness zones 5-9. In Hobart Botanical gardens. In Sichuan and Yunnan.

Where It Grows

Asia, Australia, China*, Europe, India, Tasmania,

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. A number of cultivars have been selected for their ornamental value. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they 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. Suckers, removed in late autumn/early winter and planted out in situ or potted up and planted out in late spring.

Other Uses

Dye Hedge Hedge The plant makes an impenetrable hedge that can be trimmed or left to its own devices. A yellow dye is obtained from the root. Special Uses Hedge Hedge

Notes

There are about 450-500 Berberis species.

Synonyms

B. acuminata. non Franch.

References (6)

Bodkin, F., 1991, Encyclopedia Botanica. Cornstalk publishing, p 141
Bull. Herb. Boissier ser. 2, 8:196. 1908
Cundall, P., (ed.), 2004, Gardening Australia: flora: the gardener's bible. ABC Books. p 230
Etherington, K., & Imwold, D., (Eds), 2001, Botanica's Trees & Shrubs. The illustrated A-Z of over 8500 trees and shrubs. Random House, Australia. p 124
Lord, E.E., & Willis, J.H., 1999, Shrubs and Trees for Australian gardens. Lothian. p 206

Show all 6 references