''Berberis darwinii'', Darwin’s barberry, is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, native to southern Chile and Argentina and naturalized elsewhere. Regional vernacular names include ''michay'', ''calafate'', and ''quelung''. Growing to tall, it is an evergreen thorny shrub.

Description

''Berberis darwinii'' has dense branches from ground level. The leaves are small oval, long and broad, with a spiny margin; they are borne in clusters of 2–5 together, subtended by a three-branched spine 2–4 mm long. The flowers are orange, 4–5 mm long, produced in dense

raceme A raceme ( or ) or racemoid is an unbranched, indeterminate type of inflorescence bearing flowers having short floral stalks along the shoots that bear the flowers. The oldest flowers grow close to the base and new flowers are produced as the s ...

s 2–7 cm long in spring. The fruit is a small purple-black

berry A berry is a small, pulpy, and often edible fruit. Typically, berries are juicy, rounded, brightly colored, sweet, sour or tart, and do not have a stone or pit, although many pips or seeds may be present. Common examples are strawberries, raspb ...

4–7 mm diameter, ripening in summer. ''Berberis darwinii'' was discovered in South America in 1835 by Charles Darwin during the voyage of the 'Beagle'. It was one of many named in honour of Darwin. The berries of this species are known to have been consumed by prehistoric native peoples in the Patagonian region over millennia. It is a popular garden and hedging shrub in the British Isles. The Royal Horticultural Society has given the species its

Award of Garden Merit The Award of Garden Merit (AGM) is a long-established annual award for plants by the British Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). It is based on assessment of the plants' performance under UK growing conditions. History The Award of Garden Merit ...

. The edible fruit is very acidic. Berberis darwinii - Flickr - Dick Culbert.jpg, Fruit Berberis darwinii - leaves - 02.JPG, Leaves Michay Parque Nacional Puyehue 04.jpg, Close-up of flowers

Invasive species

''Berberis darwinii'' is regarded as an invasive plant pest in New Zealand that escaped from gardens into indigenous plant communities via its bird-dispersed seeds. It is considered a serious threat to indigenous ecosystems throughout New Zealand and is listed on the National Pest Plant Accord. In Australia, the species is naturalised in the states of South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Tasmania. The species has also become sparingly naturalized in the US states of California and Oregon. It is often planted and sometimes naturalized in Ireland.Parnell, J. and Curtis, T. 2012.''Webb's An Irish Flora.'' Cork University Press.

References

{{Authority control darwinii Flora of Argentina Flora of Chile Garden plants of South America

Description

Invasive species

See also

References