Damigeron's Dungeon: Prestigious Plants

Plant Indices

Alphabetical Index (Genera)
Alphabetical Index (Vernacular)
Cladistic Index

BARBERRY (Berberis)

Family: Berberidaceae

A barberry bush in Iran.
Own work--Basp1.

Asia, East

Chinese: Xiaopo

Japanese: Tsuburaji

Korean: Meginamu

Asia, West

Farsi: Zereshk

Europe, Central

Czech: Mahonya

German: Berberisse, Berberitze, Sauerdorn

Hungarian: Tövisbogyó

Europe, Eastern

Albanian: Prišt

Russian: Vinograda

Europe, Northern

Danish: Surtorn

Finnish: Suulakki

Norwegian: Raibasten, Surtorn

Swedish: Vinbar

Europe, Southern

Basque: Jaranzago

Catalan: Agracejo

Greek: Berberos

Italian: Berbero, Crespino

Portuguese: Berbéris

Spanish: Agracejo, Espina Amarilla, Espino Cambrón

Europe, Western

Dutch: Berberis, Zuurbes

English: Barberry

French: Berbéris, Épine-Vinette

Native to:

Africa, Eastern: Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Malawi, Somalia, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia

Africa, Northern: Algeria, Morocco

America, North: Canada (Alberta, British Columbia), Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, United States (Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wyoming)

America, South: Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Uruguay, Venezuela

Asia, Central: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia (Altay, Tuva, West Siberia), Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Xinjiang

Asia, East: China (Hainan, Inner Mongolia, Qinghai), Japan, Korea, Russia (Amur, Buryatiya, Chita, Irkutsk, Khabarovsk, Krasnoyarsk, Primorye, Sakhalin), Taiwan

Asia, South: Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India (Assam), Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka

Asia, Southeast: Indonesia (Java, Sumatra), Myanmar, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam

Asia, Western: Cyprus, Georgia, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Oman, Syria, Turkey, Yemen

Europe, Central: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Switzerland

Europe, Eastern: Albania, Belarus, Bulgaria, Romania, Russia, Ukraine

Europe, Northern: Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania

Europe, Southern: Corsica, Greece (Crete), Italy (Sardinia, Sicily), Portugal (Madeira), Spain

Europe, Western: Belgium, France

Introduced to:

Africa, Southern: South Africa (Free State)

America, North: Canada (Manitoba, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec), United States (Connecticut, Delaware, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin)

Europe, Northern: Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Sweden

Europe, Southern: Portugal

Europe, Western: England, Ireland, Scotland

Oceania: Australia (New South Wales, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria), Falkland Islands, New Zealand

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

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."

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.

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.

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.

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Common Barberry (Berberis vulgaris)

European Barberry Flower, Budapest, Hungary.
By 阿橋花譜 HQ Flower Guide on Flickr.

Asia, West

Farsi: Zereshk

Europe, Central

Czech: Dráč Obecný, Zimolez

German: Berberitze, Gemeiner Sauerdorn, Schusterbeeren

Polish: Berberys

Slovak: Običný Dráč, Zimolez

Europe, Eastern

Albanian: Berberi

Latvian: Kārkliņš

Lithuanian: Jaundyglė

Romanian: Berbere

Russian: Yadrinki

Europe, Northern

Danish: Surtorn

Finnish: Vinkuoja

Icelandic: Rauðberjarunni

Norwegian: Kvann, Surtorn

Swedish: Skogsberberis, Vanlig Berberis

Europe, Southern

Basque: Arazá, Garraiska

Greek: Berberos

Italian: Crespino

Portuguese: Algerive, Espinheiro-Vinagreira, Vinagreira

Spanish: Agracejo, Agracejo Común, Berberis Común, Uva Espina, Vinagreras

Europe, Western

Dutch: Gewone Zuurbes

English: Common Barberry, European Barberry, Jaundice Berry, Pipperidge Bush

French: Berbéris Commun, Épine-Vinette, Vinettier

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

Barberries are deciduous shrubs that can grow up to 4m (13ft) in height. It blooms in late spring and fruits in late summer/autumn.

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.

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.

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.

A European barberry bush heavy with fruit.
Own work--Arnstein Rønning.

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.

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Chinese Barberry (Berberis julianae)

Chinese barberry.
Own work--Wouter Hagens.

Asia, East

Chinese: Chengjiang Xiaopo, Yanzi Xiaopo

Europe, Western

English: Chinese Barberry, Evergreen Barberry, Juliana Barberry, Juliana's Barberry, Wintergreen Barberry

Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China)

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.

Retained for name and distribution.

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Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii)

Berberis thunbergii, cultivar "Atropurpurea."
Own work--Opioła Jerzy (Poland).

Asia, East

Japanese: Chabo Dokushimochi, Memaki No Ki

Europe, Central

German: Thunbergs Berberitze

Polish: Berberis Thunberga

Europe, Eastern

Latvian: Tunberga Dzelkšnis

Europe, Western

English: Japanese Barberry, Green Barberry, Japanese Redleaf Barberry, Red Barberry, Red-leaf Barberry, Thunberg Barberry, Thunberg's Barberry

French: Berberis De Thunberg

Asia, East: Japan

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.

Retained for names and distribution.
Do something with ticks.

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Warty Barberry (Berberis verruculosa)

Berberis verruculosa.
Uploaded to garden.org by user eclayne.

Europe, Central

German: Warzen-Berberitze

Polish: Marczak

Europe, Southern

Italian: Berberi Verrucoso

Europe, Western

English: Warty Barberry, Warty-shoot Barberry

French: Berberis Verruqueux

Asia, East: China (North-Central China, South-Central China)

Small evergreen shrub 100cm tall, with warty stems and yellow spines.

Retained for name and distribution.

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White Barberry (Berberis dictyophylla)

Berberis dictyophylla, from appeltern.nl.

Asia, East

Chinese: Chengshan

Asia, South

Hindi: Chitra Shalaka

Europe, Western

English: Netleaf Barberry, Pale Barberry, Papery Barberry, Reticulate-Leaf Barberry, White Barberry

Asia, Central: Tibet

Asia, East: China (South-Central China)

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.

Retained for name and distribution.

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Prestigious Plants

Plants
Flowers
Trees
Ferns
Moss and Lichen [Pending]
Fungi [Pending]
Cladistic Index
Herbal Medicine [Pending]
Resin, Incense, Balsam, and Lacquer [Pending]

Other Ranunculales

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