Berberis rariflora
Lechl.
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(c) Jhon Antony Yuca Palomino, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Jhon Antony Yuca Palomino
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Jhon Antony Yuca Palomino, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
An evergreen shrub with year-round foliage. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile, pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils including poor soils. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, or basic conditions. Can thrive in semi-shade or full sun with either dry or moist soil.
Description
An evergreen shrub with year-round foliage. Hermaphroditic and self-fertile, pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils including poor soils. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, or basic conditions. Can thrive in semi-shade or full sun with either dry or moist soil.
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. It makes a refreshing drink.
Traditional Uses
The fruit can be eaten raw or cooked and also used for making drinks.
This uses section is brief — help expand it
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.
Known 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.
Distribution
A tropical plant. It grows at high elevations at about 3,000-4,000 m above sea level in the Andes
Where It Grows
Andes, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, South America,
Cultivation
We have very little information on this species and do not know if it will be hardy in Britain, though judging by its native range it could succeed outdoors at least in the milder parts of this country. The following notes are based on the general needs of the genus. Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. 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.
Other Uses
Dye A yellow dye is obtained from the root. Special Uses
Notes
There are about 450-500 Berberis species. It is also used as medicine. It has antibacterial activity.
Also Known As
Alqo chorosilki
References (5)
- Hensen, I., 1992, La Flora de la Comunidad Chorojo, Su uso, taxonomía científica y vernacular. Agroecología Universidad Cochabamba p 23
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Thomas, E., et al, 2008, The Relationship Between Plant Use and Plant Diversity in the Bolivian Andes, with Special Reference to Medicinal Plant Use. Hum Ecol (2008) 36:861–879
- Thomas, E., et al, 2009, The relation between accessibility, diversity and indigenous valuation of vegetation in the Bolivian Andes. Journal of Arid Environments. 73:854-861
- Useful Tropical Plants.
