California barberry
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224688467
2008-07-09T23:49:09Z
Miss Madeline
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cat change
{{Taxobox
| name = California barberry
| image= Mahonia pinnata drawing.jpg
| image_caption = Drawing of ''Mahonia pinnata'' from ''Handbuch der Laubholzkunde'', 1889
| regnum = [[Plantae]]
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Magnoliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Ranunculales]]
| familia = [[Berberidaceae]]
| genus = ''[[Mahonia]]''
| species = '''''M. pinnata'''''
| binomial = ''Mahonia pinnata''
| binomial_authority = (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 [[grape]]s, 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]].
{{Ranunculales-stub}}
[[Category:Mahonia]]
[[Category:Flora of California]]
[[de:Fiederblättrige Mahonie]]