| Mahonia nevinii | |
|---|---|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Division: | Magnoliophyta |
| Class: | Magnoliopsida |
| Order: | Ranunculales |
| Family: | Berberidaceae |
| Genus: | Mahonia |
| Species: | M. nevinii |
| Binomial name | |
| Mahonia nevinii (Gray) Fedde |
|
| Synonyms | |
|
Berberis nevinii |
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Mahonia nevinii (syn. Berberis nevinii) is a species of flowering shrub in the barberry family known by the common name Nevin's barberry. This plant is endemic to southern California, where it is known from very few occurrences in the chaparral of inland canyons and foothills. It is a federally and state listed endangered species; there are thought to be about 500 individuals remaining, with half of those being naturally occurring plants.[1] It is also widely cultivated in gardens and parks.
Contents |
This is an erect shrub approaching a maximum height of four meters. It has a dense foliage of dark green to bluish-green spiny-toothed, spear-shaped leaflets. It flowers in racemes of 3 to 5 bright yellow cup-shaped, layered blossoms. The fruit is a spherical reddish berry appearing in bunches.
There are about 21 known populations of the plant remaining, and almost all of them have fewer than 20 individuals.[2] The populations are scattered throughout the San Gabriel Mountains and the Peninsular Ranges in Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties, its distribution possibly extending just into San Diego County.[2] Threats to the species include habitat loss and degradation from urban development, fire suppression, and exotic plant species.[2]
Mahonia nevinii is cultivated by specialty native plant nurseries, and is used in habitat and drought tolerant gardens and parks.