Gorse barberry
Berberis ulicina
Family: Berberidaceae
What it is like
A spiny shrub. It grows about 60 cm high. The leaves either have short stalks or no stalks. They are 0.7-2 cm long by 0.2-0.8 cm wide. The tip is spiny. The flowers are orange. The fruit are round berries 4-6 mm long. They are black.
There are about 450-500 Berberis species.
Where it is found
It is a temperate plant. They grow in Nepal at 2500-3500 m altitude. They occur on windy open slopes.
Countries/locations it is found in
Asia, Central Asia, China, Himalayas, India, Nepal, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Tibet
How it is used for food
The ripe fruit are eaten fresh.
The ripe fruit are eaten by children.
Edible parts
Fruit
How it is grown
Plants are grown from seed.
Its other names
Local names
Chhalpa, Chhiner, Chhinisrangama, Khizer, Kiraring, Puchu