Common Name:

General Information

Berberis rariflora is a spiny, erect, evergreen shrub that can grow up to 3 metres tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for local use as a food.

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 - Bolivia around La Paz

Habitat

Not known

Properties

Edibility Rating
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Evergreen Shrub
Height	2.00 m
Pollinators	Insects, Self
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Wild

Cultivation Details

Berberis rariflora is a plant of high elevations in the tropical regions of Bolivia, usually found at elevations in excess of 3,000 metres.
Species in this genus generally prefer a warm moist loamy soil and light shade but they are by no means fastidious, succeeding in thin, dry and shallow soils[, ].
Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus[].
Plants can be pruned back quite severely, they resprout well from the base[].
Some Berberis species (especially Berberis vulgaris) harbour the black stem-rust fungus (Puccinia graminis Persoon). This is a major disease of wheat and barley crops and can spread from infected barberries to the grain crop. The sale or transport of susceptible or untested species of Berberis is illegal in the United States and Canada[]. We have no data on susceptibility for this species[].

Edible Uses

Fruit - raw or cooked. It makes a refreshing drink[].

Medicinal

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.

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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