Plant Indices
- Alphabetical Index (Genera)
- Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
- Cladistic Index
BARBERRY (Berberis)
Family: Berberidaceae
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| A barberry bush in Iran. Own work--Basp1. |
Names:
- Barberry
- Agracejo [Catalan/Spanish]
- Berberisse [German]
- Berberis [Dutch]
- Berbéris [French/Portuguese]
- Berberitze [German]
- Berbero [Italian]
- Berberos [Greek]
- Crespino [Italian]
- Épine-Vinette [French]
- Espina Amarilla [Spanish]
- Espino Cambrón [Spanish]
- Jaranzago [Basque]
- Mahonya [Czech]
- Meginamu [Korean]
- Prišt [Albanian]
- Raibasten [Norwegian]
- Sauerdorn [German]
- Surtorn [Danish/Norwegian]
- Suulakki [Finnish]
- Tövisbogyó [Hungarian]
- Tsuburaji [Japanese]
- Vinbar [Swedish]
- Vinograda [Russian]
- Xiaopo [Chinese]
- Zereshk [Farsi]
- Zuurbes [Dutch]
Distribution: All temperate and subtropical (except Australia).
Physical Description
Berberis is a genus of deciduous and
evergreen shrubs typically between 1-5m (3.3-16.4ft) tall.
Bark Properties: Yellow dye
Root Properties: Yellow dye
Symbolism
Per Greenaway, the barberry (presumably the flower) indicates "sourness of temper," whilst the barberry tree (presumably a branch without flower or the whole plant as depicted in graphic arts) indicates "sharpness."
Culture
An extract from the stems,
roots, and bark of barberry plants has been used historically as a yellow dye.
Barberry thorns have been used to clean ancient gold coins, being harder than the corrosion and debris but softer than the metal beneath.
Medical
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
The young leaves alleviate thirst by their acid content, being chewed by hikers and other travelers.
Compiler Notes
- Consider exploiting the use of barberry thorns on coins. Depending on whether this was a discovered use by preservationists or a historical use will influence this. As a reagent, this might be employed to scrape away magical contagion or other affliction, without harming the patient.
- Barberry thorns might be used to express the notion of "professional skill" and, as a reagent, may assist in delicate operations.
- The meaning of "sourness of temper" could be used in a defixion to burn the target against their own social relations, in a manner similar to Iago's poisoning of Othello against Desdemona.
- Chewing barberry leaves before being struck with a thirst-curse might negate the effect. In a roleplaying context, this would be an excellent way to circumvent a thirst-based dungeon hazard.
- Barberry stems might be employed in honing spells, for both physical and mental sharpness.
- A night hag who attacks her victims with phantom claws might employ barberry thorns from her hedges as a reagent.
Image Refs
[Img 01 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Zereshk_Zibad.jpg ]
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| European Barberry Flower, Budapest, Hungary. By 阿橋花譜 HQ Flower Guide on Flickr. |
Names:
- Common Barberry
- Agracejo [Spanish]
- Agracejo Común [Spanish]
- Algerive [Portuguese]
- Arazá [Basque]
- Berbere [Romanian]
- Berberi [Albanian]
- Berbéris Commun [French]
- Berberis Común [Spanish]
- Berberitze [German]
- Berberos [Greek]
- Berberys [Polish]
- Crespino [Italian]
- Dráč Obecný [Czech]
- Épine-Vinette [French]
- Espinheiro-Vinagreira [Portuguese]
- European Barberry
- Garraiska [Basque]
- Gemeiner Sauerdorn [German]
- Gewone Zuurbes [Dutch]
- Jaundice Berry
- Jaundyglė [Lithuanian]
- Kārkliņš [Latvian]
- Kvann [Norwegian]
- Običný Dráč [Slovak]
- Pipperidge Bush
- Rauðberjarunni [Icelandic]
- Schusterbeeren [German]
- Skogsberberis [Swedish]
- Surtorn [Danish/Norwegian]
- Uva Espina [Spanish]
- Vinagreira [Portuguese]
- Vinagreras [Spanish]
- Vanlig Berberis [Swedish]
- Vinettier [French]
- Vinkuoja [Finnish]
- Yadrinki [Russian]
- Zereshk [Farsi]
- Zimolez [Czech/Slovak]
Distribution:
- Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco
- Asia, Central: Uzbekistan
- Asia, Northern: Russia (Central European Russia, East European Russia, North Caucasus, Northwest European Russia, South European Russia)
- Asia, Western: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Iran, Turkey
- Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland
- Europe, Eastern: Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Ukraine
- Europe, Northern: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania
- Europe, Southern: Albania, Greece, Italy (including Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily), North Macedonia, Serbia, Slovenia, Spain
- Europe, Western: Belgium, France
Physical Description
Barberries are deciduous shrubs that
can grow up to 4m (13ft) in height. It blooms in late spring and fruits in
late summer/autumn.
Culture
Iran is the primary producer of
both barberry (zereshk) and saffron is the province of South Khorasan in Iran,
around the regions of Birjand and Qaen. There is evidence of seedless barberry
cultivation going back 200 years in this region.
Also grown as a hedge in many places.
Medical
We are not a medical website, do not take health advice from us.
Dried barberry fruit was used generically in herbal medicine (sources vague) with little scientific backing. There is evidence indicating that it interferes with prescription drugs and is unsafe for children.
Food
Berries are edible, rich in vitamin C, and have a sharp, acidic flavor
(tart). Most of its popular culinary uses have been supplanted by citrus peel,
in part because citrus peel is more palatable, and also because the shrub’s
thorns make them difficult to harvest.
Currently most popular in Iran (where it is called zereshk). Commonly used in rice pilaf and served with chicken. Often cooked with sugar to offset the sour flavor.
Used in Russia and Eastern Europe as a ready source of pectin for jams.
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| A European barberry bush heavy with fruit. Own work--Arnstein Rønning. |
Compiler Notes
- In Iran, a barberry garden is called zerešk-estân. Seems a good basis for a place-name.
- The name "jaundice berry" is indicative of its use as a medical treatment for jaundice. However, like anything so named for its medicinal properties, it may be used to curse someone with jaundice by suggestion.
Image Refs
[Img 03 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Berberis_vulgaris_.jpg ]
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| Chinese barberry. Own work--Wouter Hagens. |
Names:
- Chinese Barberry
- Chengjiang Xiaopo [Chinese]
- Evergreen Barberry
- Juliana Barberry
- Juliana's Barberry
- Wintergreen Barberry
- Yanzi Xiaopo [Chinese]
Distribution:
- Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China)
Physical Description
Dense evergreen shrub that
grows up to 3m in height, suitable for hedging. Flowers are yellow tinged with
red. Berries are dark purple, almost black, with a white bloom.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
Image Refs
[Img 04 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Berberis_julianae_B.jpg ]
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| Berberis thunbergii, cultivar "Atropurpurea." Own work--Opioła Jerzy (Poland). |
Names:
- Japanese Barberry
- Berberis De Thunberg [French]
- Berberis Thunberga [Polish]
- Chabo Dokushimochi [Japanese]
- Green Barberry
- Japanese Redleaf Barberry
- Memaki No Ki [Japanese]
- Red Barberry
- Red-leaf Barberry
- Thunberg Barberry
- Thunberg's Barberry
- Thunbergs Berberitze [German]
- Tunberga Dzelkšnis [Latvian]
Distribution:
- Asia, East: Japan
Physical Description
Deciduous shrub growing up to
1m (3ft 3in) tall and 2.5m (8ft 2in). Identifiable in that its flowers are
umbels, rather than the typical racemes. Known habitat for ticks.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for names and distribution.
- Do something with ticks.
Image Refs
[Img 05 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Berberis_thunbergii_%60Atropurpureum%60.jpg ]
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| Berberis verruculosa. Uploaded to garden.org by user eclayne. |
Names:
- Warty Barberry
- Berberi Verrucoso [Italian]
- Berberis Verruqueux [French]
- Marczak [Polish]
- Warty-shoot Barberry
- Warzen-Berberitze [German]
Distribution:
- Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China)
Physical Description
Small evergreen shrub 100cm tall,
with warty stems and yellow spines.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
Image Refs
[Img 06 - https://garden.org/plants/view/128536/Warty-Barberry-Berberis-verruculosa/ ]
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| Berberis dictyophylla, from appeltern.nl. |
Names:
- Netleaf Barberry
- Chengshan [Chinese]
- Chitra Shalaka [Hindi]
- Pale Barberry
- Papery Barberry
- Reticulate-Leaf Barberry
- White Barberry
Distribution:
- Asia, Central: Tibet
- Asia, East: China (South-Central China)
Physical Description
A small deciduous shrub that
typically grows to 150cm in height. Young shoots are covered in white bloom
and bear branching spines. Grows in forests, on mountain slopes, thickets, and
roadsides.
Compiler Notes
- Retained for name and distribution.
Image Refs
[Img 07 - https://appeltern.nl/nl/tuinadvies/plantenencyclopedie/berberis_dictyophylla_-_zuurbes/ ]
* * * * * * *
See Also:
- Plants
- Flowers
- Trees
- Ferns
- Moss and Lichen [Pending]
- Fungi [Pending]
- Cladistic Index
- Herbal Medicine [Pending]
- Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]
- Lardizabalaceae
- Chocolate Vine
- Dead Man's Fingers
- Papaveraceae
- Bleeding Heart
- Celandine
- Fumitory
- Poppy
- Ranunculaceae
- Adonis/Anemone/Pasque
- Buttercup/Crowfoot
- Clematis
- Columbine
- Coptis
- Hellebore
- Hepatica
- Larkspur
- Love in a Mist
- Monkshood/Wolfsbane
* * * * * * *
-Greenaway, Kate. Language of Flowers. George Routleage and Sons.
( https://www.secretflowerlanguage.com/ ) - DEFUNCT
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberidaceae )
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis )
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis_dictyophylla )
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis_julianae )
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis_thunbergii )
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis_verruculosa )
(
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis_vulgaris )
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