Berberis aquifolium

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mahonia brevipes
• Mahonia aquifolium
• Odostemon aquifolius
• Odostemon nutkanus
• Mahonia aquifolium f. albovariegata
• Mahonia pinnata var. hortensis
• Mahonia aquifolium var. nutkana
• Mahonia aquifolium var. lyallii
• Mahonia diversifolia
• Mahonia latifolia
• Berberis aquifolium var. juglandifolia
• Mahonia aquifolium var. juglandifolia
• Berberis aquifolium var. lyallii
• Mahonia undulata
• Mahonia moseri
• Berberis aquifolium var. nutkana
• Mahonia moseriana
• Berberis brevipes
• Mahonia murrayana
• Odostemon brevipes
• Berberis pinnata var. hortensis
• Mahonia aquifolium f. amabilis
• Mahonia aquifolium f. aucubifolia
• Mahonia aquifolium f. aureovariegata
• Mahonia aquifolium f. lutescens

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

This plant belongs to the kingdom Plantae and falls under the phylum Streptophyta within the class Equisetopsida. It is further classified under the subclass Magnoliidae and the order Ranunculales. Finally, it is a member of the family Berberidaceae, situated within the genus Berberis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific geographical distribution concentrated within the regions of Northern Europe. Its presence can be documented across several Scandinavian nations, including Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. Furthermore, it is found in the northern territories of Finland. The species also extends its range westward to include Great Britain. Together, these locations define the primary northern habitats where the plant thrives.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Life history

The life history of Berberis aquifolium is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its presence in the ecosystem over multiple growing seasons. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground level on woody stems, a structural adaptation that defines its growth habit. Specifically, it functions as a phanerophyte, maintaining its vegetative structure through perennial cycles and supporting its biological processes through a stable, long-term life strategy.

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Berberis aquifolium is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. As a terrestrial plant, it maintains an independent existence, functioning as a non-parasitic and non-epiphytic species. The plant is self-supporting rather than being a climber, liana, or vine. In terms of stature, it exhibits significant variation in size, with a minimum plant height of 0.5 m, a mean height of approximately 1.55 m, and a maximum potential height reaching up to 3 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

3 m

Plant height mean:

1.55 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Berberis aquifolium is characterized by a C3 photosynthetic pathway, a standard metabolic strategy for plants in its ecological niche. As a non-carnivorous species, it relies on traditional nutrient uptake from the soil rather than capturing prey. Its leaf morphology plays a significant role in its resource management, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 20 cm to a maximum of 40 cm. The leaf width shows moderate variation, with a minimum value of 1 cm and a consistent maximum and mean width of 4 cm. These dimensions contribute to a mean leaf size of 108.68 cm². Furthermore, the plant exhibits a mean Specific Leaf Area (SLA) of 89.75 cm²/g, reflecting the structural density and efficiency of its leaf tissue in relation to its photosynthetic capacity.

Carnivory :

non-carnivorous

Leaf length max:

40 cm

Leaf length min:

20 cm

Leaf size mean:

108.68 cm²

Leaf width mean:

4 cm

Leaf width min:

1 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Specific Leaf Area (SLA) mean:

89.75 cm²/g

Reproduction

The reproduction of Berberis aquifolium is primarily a sexual process, as asexual reproduction is absent in this species. The flowering period typically commences in April and concludes in May, though the timing can be variable. The plant utilizes biotic pollination syndromes, specifically relying on insects to facilitate the transfer of pollen. Fertilization is supported by the presence of self-fertilization capabilities. Following successful pollination, the plant produces fruit characterized as a berry. These fruits are indehiscent, meaning they do not split open at maturity to release seeds. The seeds within the fruit vary in mass, with a minimum weight of 0.0115 g, a maximum of 0.015 g, and a mean mass of approximately 0.0115 g. Dispersal follows a zoochorous syndrome, specifically through endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed via the digestive tracts of animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Flowering time :

Apr

Flowering time :

May

Fruit type :

berry

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.015 g

Seed mass mean:

0.0115023333333333 g

Seed mass min:

0.00714 g

Self fertilization :

present

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Berberis aquifolium has 2 reported plant parts identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include stem, root.

Stem

1. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis
3. Fitoterapia

Root

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Chemicals

Berberis aquifolium has 31 reported phytochemicals identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, BERBAMINE, Corytuberine, Jatrorrhizine, Magnoflorine.

berberine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Alternative medicine review : a journal of clinical therapeutic
4. Journal of separation science
5. IUBMB life

BERBAMINE

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Die Pharmazie

Corytuberine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology

Jatrorrhizine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Journal of separation science

Magnoflorine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Methods and findings in experimental and clinical pharmacology

Oxyacanthine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica
3. Die Pharmazie

Aquifoline

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie

Baluchistine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie

Columbamine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Planta medica

Obamegine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Die Pharmazie

Activities

Berberis aquifolium has 190 reported activities identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Antibacterial, Antihypertensive, Fungicide, (+)-Inotropic, Abortifacient.

Antibacterial

1. Dr. Duke
2. Dermatologic therapy
3. IUBMB life

Antihypertensive

1. Dr. Duke
2. IUBMB life

Fungicide

1. Dr. Duke
2. IUBMB life

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenocorticotrophic

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

1. Dr. Duke

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analeptic

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Conditions

Berberis aquifolium has 3 reported investigations on conditions identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported conditions include Wounds and injuries, abscesses, cancer.

Wounds and injuries

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Abscesses

1. Journal of ethnobiology and ethnomedicine

Cancer

1. IUBMB life

Preparations

Berberis aquifolium has 9 reported preparations identified across 4 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include Mahonia aquifolium extracts, extracts, Crude extracts obtained from the stem bark, M. aquifolium extracts, Mahonia aquifolium ointment.

Mahonia aquifolium extracts

1. Die Pharmazie
2. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Extracts

1. The British journal of dermatology
2. Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)

Crude extracts obtained from the stem bark

1. Ceska a Slovenska farmacie : casopis Ceske farmaceuticke spolecnosti a Slovenske farmaceuticke spolecnosti

M. aquifolium extracts

1. Planta medica

Mahonia aquifolium ointment

1. Forschende Komplementarmedizin

Mahonia aquifolium stem-bark

1. Journal of pharmaceutical and biomedical analysis

Extract of the bark of mahonia aquifolium

1. Planta medica

Roots

1. Journal of ethnopharmacology

Stems

1. Fitoterapia