| Family: | Berberidaceae |
|---|---|
| Common name: | barberry family [Zomlefer, absent] occasionally split into 2 or 3 separate families |
| Diversity: | Worldwide: ~16 genera; ~600 species U.S.: 7 genera PNW (Hitchcock & Cronquist): 3 genera |
| Flower -- Vegetative Features -- Economic Importance -- Flower Images-- Web Sites | |
| Flower | |
|---|---|
| K3-15 Co3-9 S4-18 P (2-3) | |
| Sexuality: | bisexual |
| Symmetry: | actinomorphic |
| Inflorescence: | solitary, raceme, cyme, or fasciculate (congested in clusters) |
| Calyx (sepals): | 3 to 15, separate |
| Corolla (petals): | 3 to 9 (or absent), separate |
| Androecium: | stamens opposite petals, flattened in two series (=biseriate), anthers open at slits or with flap-like valves (pressure sensitive in some species) |
| Gynoecium: | 2 to 3 carpels, united, superior (=hypogynous) |
| Fruit: | berry or capsule |
| Other features: | perianth often in series of 3+3+3+3 |
| Vegetative Features | |
|---|---|
| Leaves: | alternate, simple or pinnately compound (a few palmately lobed), often spiney, usu. exstipulate some evergreen |
| Life-history: | perennial |
| Habit: | herbs and shrubs |
| Distribution & Ecology: | throughout N. Hemisphere and S. America |
| Some Northwest Genera: | Achlys triphylla vanilla leaf Berberis Oregon grape Vancouveria hexandra inside-out flower |
| Economic Importance | |
|---|---|
| Crops: | |
| Ornamentals: | Berberis Oregon grape |
| Weedy and pest species: | Berberis is the alternate host in the life-cycle of the wheat rust Puccinia graminis |
| Examples | Achlys |
|---|---|
| Berberis | |
| Podophyllum | |
| Vancouveria | |
| click on the genus name for a flower image | |
Links to Other Web Sites
| Texas A & M Univ. Image Gallery |
A collection of images for plants in the Berberidaceae, listed alphabetically by genus. |
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