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Herbs & Plants

Berberis parisepala

Botanical Name: Berberis parisepala
Family: Berberidaceae
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Plantae
Order: Ranunculales
Genus: Berberis

Common Names: Deng e xiao bo (in chinese)

Habitat: Berberis parisepala is native to E. Asia – Himalayas in northern Assam, northeastern India, Nepal, Sikkim and eastern Tibet. It grows In the subalpine to alpine zone, growing on rocky slopes and scree.(Thickets, alpine meadows; 3600-3900 m. Xizang.)

Descriiptiion:
Berberis parisepala is a Shrubs, deciduous, to 1.5 m tall. Branches dark gray-brown, pubescent, markedly sulcate, not verruculose; shoots brownish; spines weak, 3-fid, rarely simple or 5-fid, 4-16 mm. Petiole 2-5 mm; leaf blade shiny, abaxially pale green, adaxially yellow-green, obovate or narrowly obovate, 1.5-2.8 × 0.6-1.2 cm, papery, abaxially with slightly raised midvein, both surfaces with inconspicuous lateral and reticulate veins, base cuneate, margin entire or rarely 1-3-spinose-serrate on each side, apex rounded. Flowers solitary. Pedicels 5-12 mm, pubescent; bracteoles yellow, ovate, ca. 1.3 mm, apex acute. Sepals in 3 whorls, equal in size, 8-9 × 6.5-7.5 mm. Petals ca. 7.5 × 4 mm, basal glands separate, apex emarginate. Stamens ca. 5 mm; anther connective not prolonged, truncate. Ovules 4. Berry red, ellipsoid, 10-11 × 7-8 mm, not pruinose, style persistent. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Sep-Oct. The species is hermaphrodite (has both male and female organs) and is pollinated by Insects. The plant is self-fertile.

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Cultivation:
Prefers a warm moist loamy soil but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Succeeds in full sun or light shade. Plants can be pruned back quite severely and will resprout well from the base. This species comes into leaf very early in the spring. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. This species is closely related to B. angulosa.

Edible Uses:
The following report is for the closely related B. angulosa – it quite possibly can also be applied to this species also. Fruits are eaten – raw or cooked. The relatively large berries are freely borne and are more palatable than most barberries. The fruit is about 15mm long and 8mm wide.

Medicinal Uses:
Berberine, universally present in rhizomes of Berberis species, has marked antibacterial effects. Since it is not appreciably absorbed by the body, it is used orally in the treatment of various enteric infections, especially bacterial dysentery. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity.

Other Uses: A yellow dye is obtained from the root.

Disclaimer : The information presented herein is intended for educational purposes only. Individual results may vary, and before using any supplement, it is always advisable to consult with your own health care provider.

Resources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berberis
https://pfaf.org/user/Plant.aspx?LatinName=Berberis+parisepala
http://www.efloras.org/florataxon.aspx?flora_id=2&taxon_id=242420761

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