Berberis vulgaris L.
European barberry
Glabrous, deciduous shrub to c. 2 m high. Shoots angled. Spines generally 3-partite, < 1.5 cm long on adult shoots. Petiole to 1 cm long; lamina 2-8 × 1-2.5 cm (often some very small lvs on flowering spurs), elliptic to obovate, membranous, dull green above, usually serrulate, sometimes entire; base attenuate; apex obtuse. Fls in racemes to c. 6 cm long at anthesis. Bracts 1-2 mm long, ovate or lanceolate-ovate. Pedicels 5-10 mm long. Perianth segments medium yellow, those of outermost whorl smaller, ovate; innermost sepals c. 5 mm long, obovate; petals c. 5 mm long, obovate,± rounded at apex. Nectaries c. 1 mm long, prominent, orange. Stamens 2-3 mm long. Ovules 2. Stigma sessile. Berry 9-11 mm long, oblong, scarlet or crimson-scarlet, shining.
S.: Canterbury, Otago, especially inland.
Europe 1875
Mainly found around old homesteads and to a limited extent in plantations and areas of reverting pasture, scrub and grassland in the vicinity of original plantings.
FL Oct-Nov.
European barberry was introduced to N.Z. in the early period of European settlement, and seems to have been mainly planted in the South Id.
