Berberis ruscifolia

Lam.

Calapate

Berberidaceae Edible: Fruit 285 iNaturalist observations

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Summary

A deciduous shrub that is hermaphroditic and self-fertile, pollinated by insects. Tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils including poor conditions. Grows in mildly acid, neutral, or basic soils and adapts to semi-shade or full sun in either dry or moist soil.

Description

A woody shrub. It grows 2 m high. It has many branches. The leaves are long and rounded towards the end. There are 1-3 spines at the tip. The flowers are on groups with short stalks. The fruit are blue-black berries. They are acid and bitter.

Edible Uses

Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - cooked. Somewhat bitter.

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

A tropical plant. In Argentina it grows between sea level and 1,000 m above sea level.

Where It Grows

Argentina, Brazil, South America, Uruguay,

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. We have very little information on this species but it succeeds outdoors at Oxford Botanical Gardens and so should be hardy in many parts of Britain. Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. This species is closely related to B. illicifolia.

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.

Also Known As

Calafate, Espinoa colorada, Palo amarillo, Quebrachillo, Sach uva, Talilla, Ubilla

References (6)

Ahrendt, L. W. A. 1961. Berberis and Mahonia a taxonomic revision. J. Linn. Soc., Bot. 57:255-256.
Bircher, A. G. & Bircher, W. H., 2000, Encyclopedia of Fruit Trees and Edible Flowering Plants in Egypt and the Subtropics. AUC Press. p 57
Chamorro, M. F., & Ladio, A., 2020, Native and exotic plants with edible fleshy fruits utilized in Patagonia and their role as sources of local functional foods. BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies. 20:155
Malezas Comestibles del Cono Sur, INTA, 2009, Buernos Aires
Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/

Show all 6 references