Appearance
"Berberis aquifolium" grows to 1–2 m tall by 1.5 m wide, with pinnate leaves up to 30 cm long, each leaf made up of spiny leaflets. The leathery leaves resemble those of holly and the stems and twigs have a thickened, corky appearance. The flowers, borne in dense clusters in late spring, are yellow, and are followed by spherical dark dusty blue berries, which give rise to the common name "Oregon grape".
Naming
The Latin specific epithet "aquifolium" denotes "sharp-leafed", referring to the spiny foliage.
Distribution
"Berberis aquifolium" is a native plant in the North American West from Southeast Alaska to Northern California, and eastern Alberta to central New Mexico, often occurring in the understory of Douglas fir forests and in brushlands in the Cascades, Rockies, and northern Sierras.
Uses
The small purplish-black fruits, which are quite tart and contain large seeds, are included in small quantities in the traditional diets of Pacific Northwest indigenous peoples, mixed with salal or another sweeter fruit. Today, they are sometimes used to make jelly, alone or mixed with salal. Oregon-grape juice can be fermented to make wine, similar to European barberry wine folk traditions, although it requires an unusually high amount of sugar. The berries can also be eaten raw after the season's first frosts.
Cultural
Oregon-grape is the state flower of Oregon.References:
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