Mahonia haematocarpta Wooten

by Kirsten Swinski, Native Plants Class 2002
Common names: Red barberry, red-fruited barberry, algerita
Family: Berberidaceae
Synonymy: Berberis nevinii A. Gray var. haematocarpa (Wooton) L. D. Benson; Mahonia haematocarpa (Wooton) Fedde
Etymology: “haemato” = red, “carpa” = fruit

Identification
Growth form: Red barberry is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 6ft.
Roots: Roots contain many alkaloids and are bright yellow (3).
Stems: Stems have longer primary shoots and shorter axillary shoots. Branches are smooth and grayish-purple at maturity (5)
Leaves: Leaves pinnately compound with 3–9 leaflets, leaflets sessile except terminal leaflet often stalked. Leaflets are rigid, dull, and smooth, 2–5 times long as wide, very spiny margins (2–4 teeth), 1.5–4 cm long x .5-1 cm wide (5).
Inflorescence/flowers: Inflorescences 1.5–4.5 cm wide, racemose with 3–7 flowers. Flowers have 6 yellow petals, 6 stamen (2).
Fruit: Berries are purplish red, round and smooth, 5–8mm. Very juicy.
Similar species: B. haematocarpa can be easily distinguished from related populations of B. fremontii found in this region in that B. fremontii has more ovate leaflets (1–2.5 times long as wide) and has larger, yellowish–brown berries (12–18mm). Another species, B. higginsiae, is an intermediate between B. haematocarpa and B. fremontii. B. higginsiae is endemic to the region immediately south and east of San Diego, California. The berries of B. higginsiae are smaller than B. fremontii (6–8mm) but have a similar yellowish-brown color (5).

Ecology
Life history: Red barberry is a long-lived perennial (4).
Native/introduced: Native (3).
Photosynthetic Pathway:
Phenology: In Arizona, red barberry flowers from late February to May (2). Flowers into June in other areas.
Distribution: 3000–5000 ft, desert shrublands and grasslands, dry oak woodlands. Found in AZ, CA, CO, NV, NM, TX, and Mexico (Sonoran) (5).

Uses
Wildlife: Berries eaten by wildlife.
Ethnobotanical Uses: Roots used as bitter tonic for gall bladder and liver disorders. Roots and bark are also used to make a bright, yellow dye (3). Jelly is made from the berries and leaves are chewed to relieve thirst (1).

References
1. Elias, Thomas S. and Peter A. Dykeman. 1982. Field Guide to North American Edible Wild Plants. New York: Outdoor Life Books.

2. Epple, A.O. 1995. A Field Guide to Plants of Arizona. Guilford, CT: The Globe Pequot Press.

3. Hogan, Phyllis and Kristin Huisinga. 1999. An Annotated Catolog of the Native and Naturalized Flora of Arizona. Flagstaff, AZ: Arizona Ethnobotanical Research Association.

4. USDA, NRCS. 2002. The PLANTS Database, Version 3.5 (http://plants.usda.gov). National Plant Data Center, Baton Rouge, LA 70874-4490 USA.

5. Whittemore, Allan T. 1993. Berberis haematocarpa in Flora of North America, Volume 3. Cambridge, MA: Oxford University Press.