Berberis sibirica
Pallas
Siberian barberry
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(c) Pyak Andrei, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC), uploaded by Pyak Andrei
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Ira Han, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
iNaturalist· cc-by-nc
(c) Ira Han, some rights reserved (CC BY-NC)
Summary
Source: WikipediaA deciduous shrub reaching 0.6 m (2 ft) tall. Hermaphroditic flowers appear June to July and are insect-pollinated. The plant is self-fertile and frost hardy. It tolerates light sandy, medium loamy, and heavy clay soils, including nutritionally poor conditions. Grows in mildly acidic, neutral, or mildly alkaline soils. Adapts to semi-shade or full sun and prefers dry to moist soil.
Description
A thorny shrub. It grows 1 m high. The leaves have 3-6 spines on both sides. The leaves are oblong with a wedge shaped base. The fruit are red berries. They are 9 mm long and 7 mm wide. The fruit is edible.
Edible Uses
Edible Parts: Fruit Edible Uses: Fruit - raw or cooked. Freely borne.
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 Kazakhstan it grows on stony mountain slopes. In north China it grows in desert regions and alpine slopes between 1,400-3,000 m above sea level.
Where It Grows
Asia, Australia, Central Asia, China, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Siberia,
Cultivation
Prefers a warm moist loamy soil but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade. 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.
References (5)
- Dzhangaliev, A. D., et al, 2003, The Wild Fruit and Nut Plants of Kazakhstan, Horticultural Reviews, Vol. 29. pp 305-371
- Hedrick, U.P., 1919, (Ed.), Sturtevant's edible plants of the world. p 98
- Plants for a Future database, The Field, Penpol, Lostwithiel, Cornwall, PL22 0NG, UK. http://www.scs.leeds.ac.uk/pfaf/
- Reise russ. Reich. (app.) 2:737, t. P, fig. 2. 1773
- 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).
