| Mahonia haematocarpa | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Mahonia |
| Species: | M. haematocarpa |
| Binomial name | |
| Mahonia haematocarpa (Woot.) Fedde |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Berberis haematocarpa |
|
Mahonia haematocarpa (syn. Berberis haematocarpa) is a species of barberry known by the common name red barberry. It is also sometimes called algerita,[1] but that name is more often applied to its relative, Mahonia trifoliolata. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it grows in desert chaparral and woodlands, such as in the Mojave Desert of California.
This is an erect evergreen shrub growing up to 4 meters (~12 ft.) tall. The leaves are several centimeters long and are each made up of a few thick, waxy, lance-shaped leaflets with spiny toothed edges.
The inflorescences bear 3 to 5 bright yellow flowers, each with nine sepals and six petals all arranged in whorls of three. The fruit is a juicy, edible yellow-orange or pink berry just under a centimeter wide.