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 Berberis darwinii shoot with flowers | ||||||||||||
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| About 450-500; see text |
Berberis (Bér-be-ris, barberry, pepperidge bush) a genus of about 450-500 species of deciduous and evergreen shrubs from 1-5 m tall with thorny shoots, native to the temperate and subtropical regions of Europe, Asia, Africa, North America and South America. They are closely related to the genus Mahonia, which is included within Berberis by some botanists.
The genus is characterised by dimorphic shoots, with long shoots which form the structure of the plant, and short shoots only 1-2 mm long. The leaves on long shoots are non-photosynthetic, developed into three-spined thorns 3-30 mm long; the bud in the axil of each thorn-leaf then develops a short shoot with several normal, photosynthetic leaves. These leaves are 1-10 cm long, simple, and either entire, or with spiny margins. Only on young seedlings do leaves develop on the long shoots, with the adult foliage style developing after the young plant is 1-2 years old.
The deciduous species (e.g. Berberis thunbergii, B. vulgaris) are noted for good autumn colour, the leaves turning pink or red before falling. In some evergreen species from China (e.g. B. candidula, B. verruculosa), the leaves are brilliant white beneath, making them particularly attractive.
The flowers are produced singly or in racemes of up to 20 on a single flower-head. They are yellow or orange, 3-6 mm long, with six sepals and six petals in alternating whorls of three, the sepals usually coloured like the petals. The fruit is a small berry 5-15 mm long, ripening red or dark blue, often with a pink or violet waxy surface bloom; they may be either long and narrow (like a bar, hence 'barberry') or in other species, spherical.
The berries are edible, and rich in vitamin C, though with a very sharp flavour; the thorny shrubs make harvesting them difficult, so in most places they are not widely consumed. They are an important food for many small birds, which disperse the seeds in their droppings. In Iran, the dried fruits, known as zereshk, are more widely used, imparting a tart flavor to chicken dishes. In Ukraine, they are used as the flavouring in a popular candy of the same name.
Berberis species are used as food plants by the larvae of some Lepidoptera species including Mottled Pug.
Several are popular garden shrubs, grown for their ornamental leaves, yellow flowers, and red or blue-black berries. They are also valued for crime prevention; being very dense, viciously spiny shrubs, they make very effective barriers impenetrable to burglars. For this reason they are often planted below potentially vulnerable windows, and used as hedges and other barriers.
Berberis buxifolia (Calafate) and Berberis darwinii (Michay) are two species found in Patagonia in Argentina and Chile. Their edible purple fruits are used for jams and infusions; anyone who tries a berry is said to be certain to return to Patagonia. The calafate and michay are symbols of Patagonia.
Berberis vulgaris (European Barberry) is the alternate host species of the wheat rust Puccinia graminis, a serious fungal disease of wheat. For this reason, cultivation of this species is prohibited in many areas.
Some Berberis have become invasive species when planted outside of their native ranges, including B. glaucocarpa and B. darwinii in New Zealand (where it is now banned from sale and propagation), and B. thunbergii in some parts of North America.
Selected species
Zereshk
Zereshk (زرشک) is the Persian name for the dried fruit of barberries, which are widely cultivated in Iran. Iran is the largest producer of zereshk and saffron in the world. Zereshk is the fruit of a type of barberry bush. Zereshk and saffron are produced on the same land and the harvest is at the same time. The southern part of Khorasan is the main area of zereshk production. A garden of zereshk is called zereshk-estan. It has a sour taste and is often used in dishes involving chicken. It is usually cooked with rice and provides a nice meal with chicken. Zereshk jamphoto, zereshk juicephoto, and zereshk fruit rollsphoto are also produced in Iran.
In colloquial Persian, zereshk is used as a term for showing dissent or disagreement, similar the to usage of "blowing a raspberry" in English. Although not a vulgar term in that context, it is not used in polite speech.
Gallery
Berberis gagnepainii three-spined thorn (modified long shoot leaf) with leafy short shoot. Each thorn is 20 mm long.
Berberis verruculosa upper side of shoot above, lower side below.
Berberis gagnepainii flower detail (flowers 7 mm diameter).
Berberis gagnepainii fruit.
Berberis thunbergii shrub.
References
- Murrills, Angela (November 24, 2005). "Best Eating: Check, please". Straight.com. Retrieved on 2007-05-02.
- Wilkinson, Bobbie; Tom Wilkinson (August 15, 2004). "It's an Adventure in Persian Cuisine at Darya Kabob". The Washington Post. Retrieved on 2007-05-02.
- Arellano, Gustavo (March 18, 2004). "Naan & Kabob". Orange County Weekly. Retrieved on 2007-05-02.
External link
- Berberine Thoughts - Informative but non-scholarly essay on Barberry & Berberis (Culture, History and Etymology).
