California barberry

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California barberry
Drawing of Mahonia pinnata from Handbuch der Laubholzkunde, 1889
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Plantae Division: Magnoliophyta Class: Magnoliopsida Order: Ranunculales Family: Berberidaceae Genus: Mahonia Species: M. pinnata
Binomial name
Mahonia pinnata (Lag.) Fedde.

The shrub California barberry has two Latin names used by botanists, Berberis pinnata and Mahonia pinnata. The genus Mahonia is sometimes considered to be part of Berberis. Another common name for this species is shinyleaf mahonia. It is a dark green bush which resembles holly with its serrated leaves but bears round purple fruits that look like small grapes. The plant is found on the west coast of North America on coastal mountain slopes.

This species is quite similar to the Oregon-grape (Mahonia aquifolium), and is sometimes called the California Oregon-grape. Its fruits are not true grapes, but they are edible, if a bit sour and packed with seeds. They have also been used to produce purple dye. Former medicinal uses of the plant include an edible bark preparation as treatment for fever, rheumatism, and dysentery.