Common Oregon grape

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Common Oregon grape
Common Oregon grape (Mahonia aquifolium)

Common Oregon grape ( Mahonia aquifolium )

Systematics
Eudicotyledons
Order : Buttercups (Ranunculales)
Family : Barberry family (Berberidaceae)
Subfamily : Berberidoideae
Genre : Mahonia ( Mahonia )
Type : Common Oregon grape
Scientific name
Mahonia aquifolium
( Pursh ) Nutt.

The Ordinary Mahonie or Stechdornblättrige Oregon grape ( Mahonia aquifolium ) is a plant from the genus of Mahonien ( Mahonia ) within the family of Barberry (Berberidaceae). It originally comes from western North America and can be found wild in Europe . It is used as an ornamental wood in parks and gardens.

Description and ecology

illustration
inflorescence
fruit

Vegetative characteristics

The common Oregon grape grows as an independently upright, multi-stemmed, unreinforced, evergreen shrub and reaches heights of up to about 1.8 meters.

The leather-hard, up to 30 centimeters long leaves are pinnate unpaired. The leaflets are up to 8 centimeters long and sit 5 to 13 on the leaf spindle. They are glossy dark green on the top, lighter on the underside, their edge is partly strongly wavy and each side has 10 to 20 spiked teeth. The leaves are sometimes deep bronze red in winter.

Generative characteristics

The flowering period extends from March to June. The upright, dense, up to 8 centimeters high, racemose inflorescences stand together in groups of three to four.

The fragrant, hermaphrodite flowers are threefold, yellow and sometimes red. The six petals are golden yellow. As with other barberry plants, the rare mechanism of irritable stamens can be studied in the common Oregon grape , which, when touched by an insect, shoots explosively towards the stigma and thus attach their pollen to the visitor.

The fruits ripen from August. The berries, which are purple-black when ripe, have bluish frosting, are pea-sized, spherical and contain two to five seeds. The seeds are red-brown. The berries are edible and have a strong sour taste; they have a dark red juice .

The number of chromosomes is 2n = 28.

Multiplication

The propagation takes place mainly vegetatively through underground runners , cuttings or through animal spreading of the seeds.

Similarity to other plant species

The Oregon grape is sometimes confused with the European holly ( Ilex aquifolium ) because of its external similarity . Laypeople often think of Mahonia as laurel .

distribution

The original range of the common Oregon grape ranges in western North America from British Columbia in Canada to the US state of Oregon . In Oregon, Oregon grape is the official state flower ("Oregon grape"). Occasionally, a white coating can develop on the plant, powdery mildew , and with some varieties also rust.

For example, it is a widespread neophyte in Central Europe , especially in France .

sorts

Only the two most popular of a large number of varieties are listed here:

  • Jupiter: Broad, upright growth up to 1.5 meters, no runners. The inflorescences are erect and the flower is light yellow. The variety is easily susceptible to powdery mildew.
  • Mirena: Tightly upright growth up to 1.3 meters, stubborn. The variety is very productive and very resistant to powdery mildew and rust.

Systematics

It was first published in 1813 under the name ( Basionym ) Berberis aquifolium by Frederick Traugott Pursh . The specific epithet aquifolium is composed of the Latin words acus for tip and folium for leaf and indicates the tips at the leaf margins.

use

The common Oregon grape is used almost worldwide as an ornamental plant in parks and gardens in the temperate areas . It grows in both sunny and partially shaded locations.

Various cultivated forms are known of the common Oregon grape, for example the varieties 'Apollo', 'Atropurpurea', 'Smaragd' and 'Compacta'.

With the small Oregon grape ( Mahonia fortunei ) the common Oregon grape ( Mahonia aquifolium ) forms the hybrid Mahonia × heterophylla . With the pinnate-leaved Oregon grape ( Mahonia pinnata ) the common Oregon grape ( Mahonia aquifolium ) forms the hybrid Wagner's Oregon grape ( Mahonia × wagneri ).

With different types of barberry , the common Oregon grape forms different types of the hybrid genus Barberry Mahonie (× Mahoberberis ).

The common Oregon grape cannot be used without further ado, as most parts of the plant are poisonous. The roots contain up to 1.5% berberine and various other alkaloids . The alkaloid content of the berries is around 0.05%; they are edible and are z. B. used for the production of jams and fruit wines as well as in the mixture with other low-acid fruits as a color component. The berry has a sugar content of 9.8 g / 100 g and fruit acid of 4.87 g / 100 ml. It also contains various vitamins, among others. a. Vitamin C and minerals.

In the literature there are references to the medicinal use of plant extracts , in particular the berberine contained therein, for combating dandruff and psoriasis , possibly also acne . The bark and root extract is recommended in traditional literature and in homeopathy for rashes . The common Oregon grape blooms early in spring (from March) and thus represents an early nectar and pollen season for bees and bumblebees .

Oregon grape can be used to dye wool , silk and cotton . The berries are blue-violet in color, the inner bark and yellow roots are yellow.

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Erich Oberdorfer : Plant-sociological excursion flora for Germany and neighboring areas. 8th edition. Verlag Eugen Ulmer, Stuttgart 2001, ISBN 3-8001-3131-5 . Page 422.
  2. a b Helmut Pirc: Encyclopedia of wild fruit and rare fruit species . Pages 58–59, ISBN 978-3-7020-1515-2 .
  3. Berberis aquifolium at Tropicos.org. Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, accessed on May 3, 2018.
  4. International Plant Names Index: Berberis aquifolium Pursh. International Plant Names Index, 2005, accessed May 3, 2018 .

Web links