Berberis leschenaultii

Family: Berberidaceae

What it is like

A shrub. It grows 4 m high. The small branches have leaf bases that remain attached to the branch. The leaves have an even number of leaflets. The leaves are 30 cm long by 10 cm wide and there are usually about 6 pairs of leaflets. The leaflets are 8 cm long by 5 cm wide. There are spiny teeth along the edge. The flower have yellow petals. The fruit are round berries 8 mm across. They have one seed. The become dark blue when ripe.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in the hills above 1,500 m above sea level in India.

Countries/locations it is found in

Asia, Australia, India

How it is used for food

The fruit are eaten raw.

Edible parts

Fruit

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Holy leaf berberis of Nilgiri, Mullu murungai keerai

Synonyms

Mahonia leschenaultii (Wall. ex Wight & Arn.) Takeda;