Bearberry

Names and Synonyms

Common Names

• Bearberry
• Bearwood
• Cascara Buckthorn
• Chittam Bark
• Californian Buckthorn
• Cascara

Scientific Names

Accepted name

Synonyms

• Rhamnus purshiana

Regional and Traditional Names

Sources: Wikidata, Catalogue of Life

Taxonomical Classification

This plant, known as Frangula purshiana, belongs to the kingdom Plantae and the phylum Streptophyta. Within the class Equisetopsida and subclass Magnoliidae, it is classified under the order Rosales and the family Rhamnaceae. It is specifically identified by its genus, Frangula.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Distribution

This plant exhibits a specific distribution concentrated within the western regions of North America. In Western Canada, its presence is recorded within the province of British Columbia. Moving into the Northwestern United States, it can be found across several key states. Specifically, this species inhabits the landscapes of Idaho, Montana, and Oregon. Finally, its range extends through the state of Washington to complete its geographical footprint.

Sources: The World Checklist of Vascular Plants (WCVP)

Botanical Identification

Ecology

The ecology of Frangula purshiana is characterized by its preference for lowland environments, where it establishes itself within specific forest strata. This species thrives in these lower elevations, typically occupying the understory or margins of lowland tropical or subtropical forest ecosystems. The environmental conditions of these habitats provide the necessary moisture levels and temperature stability required for its growth cycles. By occupying these lowland niches, the plant plays a role in the complex biotic interactions of its ecosystem, contributing to the structural diversity of the forest floor and interacting with the local soil microbiota and fauna typical of low-altitude vegetative zones.

Habitat :

Lowland

Life history

The life history of Frangula purshiana is characterized by its status as a perennial species, ensuring its long-term presence within its ecological niche. As a phanerophyte, its reproductive buds are elevated above the ground on woody stems, a life form that can be further categorized as a phanerophyte to denote its structural growth habit. Throughout its developmental stages, the plant maintains an evergreen deciduousness, retaining its foliage year-round rather than shedding it seasonally.

Deciduousness :

evergreen

Life form :

phanerophyte

Lifecycle :

perennial

Morphology

The morphology of Frangula purshiana is characterized by its woody structure and diverse growth forms, manifesting as both a tree and a shrub. As a terrestrial species, it exists as an independent organism rather than a parasite or an epiphyte. The plant exhibits a self-supporting habit, lacking the climbing tendencies of a liana or vine. In terms of vertical dimensions, the plant's height varies, with a recorded maximum height of 7 meters, though data indicates a mean plant height of approximately 9.297 meters.

Aquatic :

terrestrial

Climber :

self-supporting

Epiphyte :

terrestrial

Growth form :

tree

Growth form :

shrub

Parasite :

independent

Plant height max:

7 m

Plant height mean:

9.29666666666667 m

Woodiness :

woody

Physiology

The physiology of Frangula purshiana is characterized by a specialized carbon fixation strategy and distinct foliar morphology. The plant utilizes the C3 photosynthetic pathway, a common metabolic process involving the direct fixation of carbon dioxide through the Calvin cycle. Morphologically, its leaves exhibit a consistent and broad structure, maintaining a highly uniform width of 10 cm, as both the mean and minimum measurements align at this value, with a maximum width also recorded at 10 cm. In terms of longitudinal dimensions, the leaf length reaches a maximum of 9 cm, defining the specific architectural proportions of its photosynthetic organs.

Leaf length max:

9 cm

Leaf width mean:

10 cm

Photosynthetic pathway :

C3

Reproduction

The reproduction of Frangula purshiana is characterized by a reliance on sexual processes, as asexual reproduction is absent. The plant produces fruit classified as a berry, which is indehiscent, meaning it does not split open at maturity to release its contents. These fruits have an average width of 1.16 cm. Within these fruits, the seeds exhibit a specific mass profile, with a minimum mass of 0.0303 g, a maximum mass of 0.0472 g, and a mean seed mass of 0.03781625 g. The dispersal strategy is categorized under the zoochorous syndrome, specifically utilizing endozoochory, where seeds are dispersed after being ingested by animals.

Dehiscence :

indehiscent

Dispersal syndrome :

zoochorous

Dispersal syndrome :

endozoochorous

Fruit type :

berry

Fruit width mean:

1.16 cm

Reproduction asexual :

absent

Seed mass max:

0.0472 g

Seed mass mean:

0.03781625 g

Seed mass min:

0.0303 g

Sources: Global Inventory of Floras and Traits (GIFT)

Chemicals

Frangula purshiana has 73 reported phytochemicals identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported chemicals include Cascaroside A, Anthraquinones, Cascaroside B, Cascaroside C, Cascaroside D.

Cascaroside A

1. Dr. Duke
2. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A
3. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM

Anthraquinones

1. Dr. Duke
2. Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy

Cascaroside B

1. Dr. Duke
2. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM

Cascaroside C

1. Dr. Duke
2. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM

Cascaroside D

1. Dr. Duke
2. Rapid communications in mass spectrometry : RCM

10-Hydroxyaloin A

1. Dr. Duke

10-Hydroxyaloin B

1. Dr. Duke

ALUMINUM

1. Dr. Duke

ANTHRAQUINONE

1. Journal of toxicology and environmental health. Part A

Aloe emodin

1. Dr. Duke

Activities

Frangula purshiana has 401 reported activities identified across 0 scientific publications and several other databases. The most consistently reported activities include 5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor, ACE-Inhibitor, AGEs-Inhibitor, AP-1-Inhibitor, Acidulant.

5-Alpha-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

ACE-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AGEs-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

AP-1-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Acidulant

1. Dr. Duke

Aldose-Reductase-Inhibitor

1. Dr. Duke

Allelopathic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic

1. Dr. Duke

Allergenic?

1. Dr. Duke

Amphiglycemic?

1. Dr. Duke

Preparations