Al Schneider's Rocky Mountains Plant Descriptions

Colorado Barberry
Berberis fendleri
Berberis/Vancouveria family (Berberidaceae)

Numerous single stems form thickets of this plant which, despite its spreading , has a certain appeal to it, certainly from its very bright cluster of yellow flowers and then its even brighter cluster of red . "Berberis" is from "Berberys," the Arabic name for the . Augustus Fendler was a well known plant collector of the 19th century.


©2004 Al Schneider

Description

Shrubs typically to about 40" (sometimes to 72"), inner bark yellow; spreading in colonies; with shiny, spiny stems. purple-brown. 3-5 parted, up to 2/3" long. Leaves to 2 1/2" long but often half of that, in clusters, turning red in fall. Flowers bright yellow in clusters of 5-10 giving rise to bright red .

Field Marks

Bright yellow flowers followed by bright red . Stems with stout, branched .

© Al Schneider

spine -- a stiff, sharp structure formed by the modification of a plant organ that contains vascular tissue. A spine can be formed by a latteral branch, a modified leaf or a thorn.

branchlet -- a small branch.

fruit -- any seed-bearing structure in flowering plants. It is formed from the ovary after flowering.

The botanical term "berry" is different from common usage. Strawberries and raspberries are not berries. But a tomatoe is. A true berry is a fruit with the seeds immersed in the pulp.

whorled -- The leaves are arranged in whorls of 3 or more leaves along the stems of a plant.

A simple leaf blade is one that is not divided into separate leaflets.