Berberis fortunei

Names and Synonyms

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Mahonia fortunei
• Mahonia fortunei var. szechuanica
• Berberis fortunei var. szechuanica

Sources: Wikidata

Taxonomical Classification

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

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant is primarily distributed throughout various regions of Eastern Asia. Within China, its presence is notable across the South-Central and Southeast territories. The species also extends its reach to the Korean Peninsula. Furthermore, it can be found growing in the mountainous areas of Taiwan. Consequently, its natural habitat is concentrated within these specific East Asian locations.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Berberis fortunei is characterized by its distribution across a broad altitudinal gradient, allowing it to inhabit diverse montane environments. This species thrives across an elevational range that begins at a minimum of 350 m AMSL and extends to a maximum altitude of 2000 m AMSL. Within this vertical distribution, the plant maintains a mean elevation of approximately 1175 m AMSL, a positioning that typically subjects it to the temperate climatic conditions and varying moisture regimes found in mid-to-high altitude ecosystems.

Elevational range max:

2000 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

1175 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

350 m AMSL

Life history

The life history of Berberis fortunei is characterized by its nature as a perennial plant, meaning it persists through multiple growing seasons rather than completing its cycle in a single year. Throughout its lifespan, the plant maintains an evergreen habit, retaining its foliage year-round and providing consistent vegetative cover regardless of the season. This combination of a long-lived perennial lifecycle and evergreen deciduousness allows the species to establish a stable, enduring presence in its natural habitat, continuously supporting its metabolic processes and structural integrity over many years.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Berberis fortunei is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. This species exhibits a self-supporting habit, meaning it does not require external structures for climbing. In terms of stature, the plant displays significant variability in height, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2 m, with an average plant height of approximately 1.625 m.

Climber :

self-supporting

Growth form :

shrub

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1.625 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiological profile of Berberis fortunei is characterized by distinct foliar dimensions and metabolic characteristics. The leaf morphology exhibits significant variability, with leaf lengths ranging from a minimum of 10 cm to a maximum of 28 cm, though the mean leaf length is recorded at 38 cm. In terms of lateral expansion, the leaf width fluctuates between a minimum of 8 cm and a maximum of 18 cm. Regarding its nutrient acquisition strategies, the plant does not function as a nitrogen fixer, meaning it relies on the uptake of available nitrogen from the soil rather than through symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes.

Leaf length max:

28 cm

Leaf length mean:

38 cm

Leaf length min:

10 cm

Leaf width max:

18 cm

Leaf width min:

8 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Reproduction

The reproduction of Berberis fortunei is driven by a biotic pollination syndrome, primarily facilitated by insects. The plant produces inflorescences with a length ranging from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.07 m. Following successful pollination, the plant develops fruits characterized by specific dimensional traits, where the width typically maintains a mean of 0.5 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm.

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.5 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.07 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Pollination syndrome :

insect

Pollination syndrome :

biotic

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Plant Parts

Berberis fortunei has 3 reported plant parts identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases that are studied for medicinal purposes. The most consistently reported plant part include leaf, stem, root.

Leaf

1. Molecular biology reports
2. Journal of natural products

Stem

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
2. Natural product research

Root

1. Natural product research

Chemicals

Berberis fortunei has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include berberine, Jatrorrhizine, Palmatine, (22e,24r)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one, 4-Methyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one.

berberine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural products and bioprospecting
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Phytochemical analysis : PCA
5. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Jatrorrhizine

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural products and bioprospecting
3. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
4. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

Palmatine

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences
2. Zhongguo Zhong yao za zhi = Zhongguo zhongyao zazhi = China journal of Chinese materia medica

(22e,24r)-ergosta-4,6,8(14),22-tetraen-3-one

1. Steroids

4-Methyl-5,6-dihydro-2H-pyran-2-one

1. Natural product research

Chamiside A

1. Organic letters

Coptisine

1. Journal of chromatography. B, Analytical technologies in the biomedical and life sciences

Flavonoid

1. Journal of agricultural and food chemistry

Activities

Berberis fortunei has 130 reported activities identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include Fungicide, (+)-Inotropic, Abortifacient, Adrenolytic, Amebicide.

Fungicide

1. Dr. Duke
2. Natural products and bioprospecting

(+)-Inotropic

1. Dr. Duke

Abortifacient

1. Dr. Duke

Adrenolytic

1. Dr. Duke

Amebicide

1. Dr. Duke

Analgesic

1. Dr. Duke

Anesthetic

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacetylcholinesterase

1. Dr. Duke

Antiacne

1. Dr. Duke

Antiadrenergic

1. Dr. Duke

Medicinal Uses

Berberis fortunei has 1 reported medicinal uses identified across 5 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported uses include colorectal cancer.

Most Reported Uses

Preparations