Mrs Wilson's Barberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Mrs Wilson's Barberry
• Mrs. Wilson's Barberry

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Berberis wilsoniae var. favosa
• Berberis wilsoniae var. guhtzunica
• Berberis wilsoniae var. parvifolia
• Berberis wilsoniae var. stapfiana
• Berberis wilsoniae var. subcaulialata
• Berberis stapfiana
• Berberis subcaulialata
• Berberis subcaulialata var. guhtzunica
• Berberis heteropsis
• Berberis parvifolia
• Berberis favosa
• Berberis coryi

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

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 order Ranunculales, it is further categorized into the family Berberidaceae. Ultimately, its taxonomic identity is defined by its placement within the genus Berberis.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a diverse geographical range that spans across several different continents. In Europe, its presence is noted within the territory of Great Britain. Its distribution extends significantly into Asia, specifically covering South-Central China and the Tibet region. Furthermore, the species can be found within the Indo-China region, particularly in Myanmar. Finally, the plant reaches the Southern Hemisphere in the northern parts of New Zealand.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Berberis wilsoniae is characterized by a broad altitudinal distribution, ranging from 1,000 m AMSL to a maximum elevation of 4,200 m AMSL, with a mean elevational range of approximately 2,691.67 m AMSL. Although it is capable of inhabiting higher mountainous zones, it is also documented within lowland habitats. Regarding its symbiotic relationships, the species does not exhibit mycorrhizal associations.

Elevational range max:

4200 m AMSL

Elevational range mean:

2691.66666666667 m AMSL

Elevational range min:

1000 m AMSL

Habitat :

Lowland

Mycorrhiza :

no

Life history

The life history of Berberis wilsoniae is characterized by its classification as a phanerophyte, specifically exhibiting traits consistent with a nanophanerophyte, which indicates that its perennating buds are located on aerial shoots above the ground level. This plant maintains a stable presence in its ecosystem through an evergreen deciduousness, meaning it retains its foliage throughout the year rather than shedding it seasonally. As a phanerophyte, its structural development prioritizes the protection of its buds on elevated stems, allowing it to persist through various environmental conditions as a perennial woody species.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Morphology

The morphology of Berberis wilsoniae is characterized by its growth form as a woody shrub. It functions as a self-supporting plant rather than a climber or liana, maintaining an independent existence as it is not a parasite or an epiphyte. As a terrestrial species, it thrives in land-based environments. The plant exhibits a variable stature, with a height that typically ranges from a minimum of 0.5 m to a maximum of 2 m, maintaining an average plant height of approximately 1 m.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

2 m

Plant height mean:

1 m

Plant height min:

0.5 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Berberis wilsoniae is characterized by its utilization of the C3 photosynthetic pathway, which dictates its carbon fixation processes and metabolic efficiency. The plant's vegetative structure includes leaves that exhibit significant morphological variation in size; the leaf length typically averages approximately 1.52 cm, with measurements ranging from a minimum of 0.6 cm to a maximum of 3 cm. Correspondingly, the leaf width shows a mean of 0.9 cm, fluctuating between a minimum of 0.2 cm and a maximum of 1.2 cm. Furthermore, this species does not function as a nitrogen fixer, relying instead on available soil nutrients rather than symbiotic nitrogen-fixing processes to support its physiological development.

Leaf length max:

3 cm

Leaf length mean:

1.51666666666667 cm

Leaf length min:

0.6 cm

Leaf width max:

1.2 cm

Leaf width mean:

0.9 cm

Leaf width min:

0.2 cm

Nitrogen fixer :

no

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Berberis wilsoniae is characterized by specific floral and fruit morphologies that facilitate its life cycle. The reproductive process begins with the development of inflorescences, which vary in length from a minimum of 0.03 m to a maximum of 0.05 m. Following pollination, the plant produces small fruits that exhibit distinct dimensional ranges; the fruit length typically averages 0.6 cm, ranging from a minimum of 0.5 cm to a maximum of 0.7 cm, while the fruit width averages approximately 0.56 cm, with values spanning from 0.4 cm to a maximum of 0.6 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds display a mean mass of 0.02188 g, though individual seed mass can be as low as 0.00376 g or as high as 0.04 g. The dispersal of these reproductive units is complex, involving multiple syndromes including anemochorous, anthropochorous, autochorous, endozoochorous, epizoochorous, hydrochorous, myrmecochorous, unspecialized, and zoochorous methods, ensuring the plant's ability to propagate across various environmental contexts.

Dispersal syndrome :

anthropochorous

Fruit length max:

0.7 cm

Fruit length mean:

0.6 cm

Fruit length min:

0.5 cm

Fruit width max:

0.6 cm

Fruit width mean:

0.558333333333333 cm

Fruit width min:

0.4 cm

Inflorescence length max:

0.05 m

Inflorescence length min:

0.03 m

Seed mass max:

0.04 g

Seed mass mean:

0.02188 g

Seed mass min:

0.00376 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Berberis wilsoniae has 8 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include (S)-Norreticuline, (S)-Scoulerine, (S)-Tetrahydrocolumbamine, Columbamine, Flavin.

(S)-Norreticuline

1. European journal of biochemistry

(S)-Scoulerine

1. European journal of biochemistry

(S)-Tetrahydrocolumbamine

1. European journal of biochemistry

Columbamine

1. European journal of biochemistry

Flavin

1. European journal of biochemistry

Jatrorrhizine

1. European journal of biochemistry

Palmatine

1. European journal of biochemistry

berberine

1. European journal of biochemistry

Preparations

Berberis wilsoniae has 1 reported preparations identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported preparations include suspension-cultured cells.

Suspension-cultured cells

1. European journal of biochemistry