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{{Taxobox
{{SPlantbox
| color = lightgreen
|familia=Berberidaceae
| name = ''Berberis''
|genus=Berberis
| image = Berberis darwinii shoot.jpg
|habit=shrub
| image_width = 240px
|Min ht metric=cm
| image_caption = ''Berberis darwinii'' shoot with flowers
|features=evergreen, deciduous
| image2 = Berberis thunb frt.jpg
|Temp Metric=°F
| image2_width = 240px
|image=Berberis darwinii shoot.jpg
| image2_caption = ''Berberis thunbergii'' shoot with fruit
|image_width=240
|image_caption=''Berberis darwinii'' shoot with flowers
}}
}}
'''''Berberis''''' (''[[Syllable stress of Botanical Latin|Bér-be-ris]]'', '''barberry''', '''pepperidge bush''') a [[genus]] of about 450-500 species of [[deciduous]] and [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s 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 [[botanist]]s.
'''''Berberis''''' (''[[Syllable stress of Botanical Latin|Bér-be-ris]]'', '''barberry''', '''pepperidge bush''') a [[genus]] of about 450-500 species of [[deciduous]] and [[evergreen]] [[shrub]]s 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 [[botanist]]s.
The [[flower]]s are produced singly or in [[raceme]]s of up to 20 on a single flower-head. They are yellow or orange, 3-6 mm long, with six [[sepal]]s and six [[petal]]s 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 [[flower]]s are produced singly or in [[raceme]]s of up to 20 on a single flower-head. They are yellow or orange, 3-6 mm long, with six [[sepal]]s and six [[petal]]s 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 [[bird]]s, which disperse the [[seed]]s 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.<!--Of what name? "Zereshk"?-->
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.
''Berberis'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Mottled Pug]].
''Berberis'' species are used as food plants by the [[larva]]e of some [[Lepidoptera]] species including [[Mottled Pug]].
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.
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===
==Cultivation==
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===Propagation===
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===Pests and diseases===
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==Species==
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==Gallery==
== Gallery ==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Berberis gagnepainii thorn.jpg|''Berberis gagnepainii'' three-spined thorn (modified long shoot leaf) with leafy short shoot. Each thorn is 20 mm long.
Image:Berberis gagnepainii thorn.jpg|''Berberis gagnepainii'' three-spined thorn (modified long shoot leaf) with leafy short shoot. Each thorn is 20 mm long.
==References==
==References==
*[[Standard Cyclopedia of Horticulture]], by L. H. Bailey, MacMillan Co., 1963
<!--- xxxxx *Flora: The Gardener's Bible, by Sean Hogan. Global Book Publishing, 2003. ISBN 0881925381 -->
<!--- xxxxx *American Horticultural Society: A-Z Encyclopedia of Garden Plants, by Christopher Brickell, Judith D. Zuk. 1996. ISBN 0789419432 -->
* {{cite web
<!--- xxxxx *Sunset National Garden Book. Sunset Books, Inc., 1997. ISBN 0376038608 -->
* {{cite web
* {{cite web
*[http://lakecounty.typepad.com/life_in_lake_county/2007/05/berberine_thoug.html Berberine Thoughts] - Informative but non-scholarly essay on Barberry & Berberis (Culture, History and Etymology).
==External links==
*{{wplink}}
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