Barberry Might be Your Neighbor

Sometimes there are botanical treasures hidden in plain sight. I think of our native barberry species (Berberis spp.) as one of these treasures. Commonly used as low-maintenance ornamental plants, barberry shrubs can be seen in parking lots and other landscaped areas, as well as their native range in the desert grasslands and pinyon-juniper woodlands of the region.

There are at least a couple species in our area (B. fremontii and B. haematocarpa), both with evergreen leathery leaves with pokey margins. Their bright yellow flowers appear in late spring to early summer. The flowers produce edible berries that can be made into jams (though watch out for the large seeds!). The roots contain an intensely yellow-colored alkaloid called berberine which has numerous medicinal uses--it can be made into a tonic to treat fevers, constipation, mucosa (i.e. the membranes that line our organs) inflammation, and hangovers.

Keep an eye out for this special plant the next time you are hiking in the woodlands, or just running errands around town!

Publicado el mayo 8, 2020 02:23 TARDE por azscurfpea