Berberis fremontii is a species of barberry known by the common name Frémont's mahonia (after John C. Frémont).
| Berberis fremontii | |
|---|---|
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Scientific classification 
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| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Eudicots |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Berberis |
| Species: | B. fremontii
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| Binomial name | |
| Berberis fremontii | |
| Synonyms[1] | |
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Description
editBerberis fremontii is an erect evergreen shrub growing up to 4.5 meters tall. The leaves are several centimeters long and are made up of several holly-leaf-shaped leaflets, each most often 1–2.6 centimeters long and edged with spiny teeth.[2] The leaves are purplish when new, green when mature, and greenish blue when aged.
The abundant inflorescences each bear 8 to 12 bright yellow flowers, blooming in the spring.[2] Each flower is made up of nine sepals and six petals all arranged in whorls of three. The fruit is a berry up to 1.5 centimeters wide, ranging in color from yellowish to purple to nearly black.[2]
Taxonomy
editBerberis fremontii was scientifically described and named by John Torrey.[1] For many years it has been part of the controversy on if parts of the Berberis genus should be classified as Mahonia.[1][3] Friedrich Karl Georg Fedde classified it as Mahonia fremontii in 1901. However, as of 2023 Plants of the World Online (POWO) classifies it as part of Berberis.[1]
Names
editThe plant was named in honor of John C. Frémont.[4]
Distribution and habitat
editBerberis fremontii is native to mountainous regions of the US states of Arizona, Nevada, California, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah. It grows in desert grassland and pinyon-juniper woodland.[4]
Uses
editThe Zuni people use the crushed berries as a purple coloring for the skin and for objects employed in ceremonies.[5]
References
edit- ^ a b c d "Berberis fremontii Torr". Plants of the World Online. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ a b c Whittemore, Alan T. (5 November 2020). "Berberis fremontii - FNA". Flora of North America. Retrieved 9 November 2023.
- ^ Laferrière, Joseph Edward (1997). "Transfer of Specific and Infraspecific Taxa from Mahonia to Berberis (Berberidaceae)". Botanicheskii Zhurnal. 82 (9): 95–97. Retrieved 8 November 2023.
- ^ a b "Berberis fremontii in Flora of North America @ efloras.org". www.efloras.org.
- ^ Stevenson, Matilda Coxe 1915 Ethnobotany of the Zuni Indians. SI-BAE Annual Report #30 (p. 88)
External links
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- Calflora Database: Berberis fremontii (Fremont barberry)—formerly Mahonia fremontii.
- Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment Berberis fremontii (Fremont barberry)—formerly Mahonia fremontii.
- USDA Plants Profile for Mahonia fremontii (Fremont barberry)
- Colorado Wildflowers Mahonia Fact Sheet
- U.C. Photos gallery of Berberis fremontii