Common Name:

General Information

Berberis lutea is an unarmed, evergreen shrub growing up to 3 metres tall.
The wood is sometimes harvested from the wild for local use for tool handles and as a dye[, ].

Known Hazards

All parts of the plant contain the alkaloid berberine - this is most concentrated in the roots, stems and inner bark, and least concentrated in the fruits. In small quantities berberine has a range of effective medicinal applications but, in excess, can cause vomiting, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lethargy, and other ill-effects.
The fruit of most, if not all, members of this genus are more or less edible and can be eaten in quantity since the levels of berberine in the fruit are very low.

Botanical References

Range

S. America - Andean regions of Peru, Ecuador and Colombia.

Habitat

Rocky soils in woodlands, at elevations usually in excess of 3,000 metres[].

Properties

Medicinal Rating
Other Uses Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	3.00 m
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

A plant of high elevations in the Tropics, where it is usually found above 3,000 metres, though it occasionally descends as low as 1,900 metres.

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

Berberine is an isoquinoline alkaloid that is universally present in the bark and roots of all Berberis species. It 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 antitumor activity[].

Other Uses

A yellow dye is obtained from the wood[]. Used for colouring cottons[]. The wood is used to dye cottons and course textiles a beautiful and fast canary yellow[, ].

The wood is of small dimensions but is durable and used locally to make tool handles[].

Propagation

Seed - best sown as soon as it is ripe[]. Seed from over-ripe fruit will take longer to germinate[], whilst stored seed may require cold stratification[]. The seedlings are subject to damping off, so should be kept well ventilated[]. When the seedlings are large enough to handle, prick them out into individual pots and grow them on until large enough to plant out.
Cuttings of half-ripe wood in a frame.
Cuttings of mature wood of the current season's growth, preferably with a heel, in a frame[].

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