Oregon Grape
(Berberis aquifolium)
Adopted in 1899.
A low growing plant, the Oregon
Grape, Berberis aquifolium, is
native to much of the Pacific Coast and
found sparsely east of the Cascades. It
was adoted in 1899. Its year-round
foliage of pinnated, waxy green leaves
resembles holly. The plant bears dainty
yellow flowers in early summer and a
dark blue berry that ripens late in the
fall. The fruit can be used in cooking.
Oregon grape is a close relative of
barberry (Berberis vulgaris), and as
with its cousin, the plant's medicinal
portion is the root. Although Oregon
grape originated in North America, it
now also grows in Europe.
Oregon hollygrape is a low-growing shrub from 2 to 5 feet in height,
resembling the holly of the Eastern
States. The leaves are divided like
those of an ash; the five to nine
leaflets from 2 to 3 inches long and
about 1 inch wide are evergreen, thick,
leathery, smooth, and shining on the
upper surface with marginal spines. The
numerous small yellow flowers appear in
April and May and are borne in erect
clusters. The fruit consists of a
cluster of blue berries. The rootstock
and roots are more or less knotty, about
an inch or less in diameter, with tough
yellow wood and brownish bark.
- Other Common Names:
Agrecillo, Berberi, Epine Vinette,
Holly-Leaved Barberry, Holly-leaf
Oregon-grape, Mahonia, Mountain
Grape, Yerba De Sangre, Mahonia
aquifolium, Berberis aquifolium
- Leaf: Pinnately compound
(oddly), alternate, persistent; 10
to 18 inches long, 11 to 21 broadly
lanceolate leaflets each 2 to 3
inches long. Leaflets are dark,
glossy green above and paler green
below; thick, waxy cuticles and
spined teeth along their margins.
Lateral leaflets are opposite and
sessile, while the terminal leaflet
has a petiole; leaflets lack a
distinct midrib.
- Flower: Monoecious,
perfect, small bright yellow flowers
are borne in long, upright racemes.
- Fruit: Small (3/16 inch),
dark blue berries, edible, but sour.
- Twig: Unbranched;
compound leaves emerge directly from
main stem. Main stem is stout and
brown; leaves are clustered at the
terminal end. Lanceolate bud scales
persist for several years.
- Bark: Reddish brown,
scaly and rough.
- Form: A short, erect,
unbranched evergreen shrub seldom
over 3 feet
- Habitat and range. - This
shrub is native in woods in rich
soil among rocks from Nebraska to
the Pacific Ocean, but it is
especially abundant in Oregon and
northern California.
Taxonomic Hierarchy
|
Kingdom |
Plantae -- Plants |
Subkingdom |
Tracheobionta --
Vascular plants |
Superdivision |
Spermatophyta – Seed
plants |
Division |
Coniferophyta – Conifers |
Class |
Magnoliopsida –
Dicotyledons |
Subclass |
Magnoliidae – |
Order |
Ranunculales – |
Family |
Berberidaceae – Barberry
family |
Genus |
Mahonia Nutt. – barberry |
Species |
Mahonia aquifolium
(Pursh) Nutt. – hollyleaved
barberry |
|