Berberis chitria
| Berberis chitria | |
| Light: |   |
| Moisture: |   |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen Self Pollinated | |
| Height: | 13' |
| Width: | 10' |
| Blooms: | Early Summer-Mid Summer |
| Open Woods Forest | |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Medicinal Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Berberis chitria
Propagation: Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe in a cold frame, when it should germinate in late winter or early spring[1]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[1], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification and should be sown in a cold frame as early in the year as possible[2]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[3]. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on in a cold frame. If growth is sufficient, it can be possible to plant them out into their permanent positions in the autumn, but generally it is best to leave them in the cold frame for the winter and plant them out in late spring or early summer of the following year.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood, July/August in a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, preferably with a heel, October/November in a frame[1].
Cultivation: Prefers a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but it is by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[4][5]. Grows well in heavy clay soils.
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[6].
There is much confusion in the naming of this species, it is frequently confused with B. aristata and it lacks a valid name[4]. The name given above is liable to be changed[4].
Plants can be pruned back quite severely and resprouts well from the base[5].
Range: E. Asia - Himalayas.
Habitat: 1800 - 2700 metres in the Himalayas[7]. Mainly in moist places at elevations of 2000 - 3000 metres in Nepal[8].
Edibility: Fruit - raw or cooked[8].
The roasted seeds are pickled[8].
Medicinal: The juice of the bark is used to treat peptic ulcers[8]. It is also boiled then filtered and used as eyedrops to treat various eye inflammations[8].
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[9]. It should not be used with Glycyrrhiza species (Liquorice) because this nullifies the effects of the berberine[9]. Berberine has also shown antitumour activity[9].
Usage: A yellow dye is obtained from the roots and stems[8].
Pollinators: Insects
Soil: Can grow in light, medium, and heavy soils.
In Leaf: Evergreen
Seed Ripens: Early Fall-Mid Fall
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Heavy Clay: Grows in heavy-clay soils.
Also Known As: B. aristata. non D.C.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sheat, Wilfrid. Propagation of Trees, Shrubs and Conifers. St Martin, 1948.
- ↑ McMillan-Browse, Philip. Hardy Woody Plants from Seed. Grower Books, 1985.
- ↑ Dirr, Michael and Charles Heuser. The Reference Manual of Woody Plant Propagation. Athens Ga. Varsity Press, 1987.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Bean, William. Trees and Shrubs Hardy in Great Britain. Murray, 1981.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ Gupta, Basant. Forest Flora of Chakrata, Dehra Dun and Saharanpur. Forest Research Institute Press, 1945.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 Manandhar, Narayan. Plants and People of Nepal. Timber Press, 2002.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 Duke, James and Edward Ayensu. Medicinal Plants of China. Reference Publications, 1985.