Barberry

Barberry(s) (Berberidaceae family) are species-rich (400-600 species), mostly evergreen or deciduous thorny shrubs (Barberry family/Berberidaceae) with tufted deciduous leaves toothed at the margins. The plants are native to Asia and Europe. The flowers are pale yellow or yellowish brown. Barberries have black, or red berries.

see under Mahonia, common

Berberis vulgaris is parent plant of Berberidis cortex radicis, the barberry root bark and Berberidis fructus.

All parts of the plant, except the ripe berries, are poisonous. The main active ingredient is the alkaloid berberin, which is used in folk medicine as a remedy.