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Mahonia

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For the Oregon Governor's mansion, see Mahonia Hall.

Mahonia
Mahonia japonica fruit
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
Order:
Ranunculales
Family:
Berberidaceae
Genus:
Mahonia

Type species
Mahonia aquifolium
Species

see List of Berberis and Mahonia species

Mahonia is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Berberidaceae, native to eastern Asia, the Himalaya, North America and Central America.[1] They are closely related to the genus Berberis. Botanists disagree on the acceptability of the genus name Mahonia.[2] Several authorities argue plants in this genus should be included in the genus Berberis because several species in both genera are able to hybridize, and because when the two genera are looked at as a whole, there is no consistent morphological separation except simple vs compound leaves.[3] Mahonia typically have large, pinnate leaves 10–50 cm long with 5-15 leaflets, and flowers in racemes (5–20 cm long).

The genus name Mahonia honours the Philadelphia horticulturist Bernard McMahon who introduced the plant from materials collected by the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The type species of the genus is Mahonia aquifolium, (Oregon grape) from the Pacific coast of North America.

Several species are popular garden shrubs, grown for their ornamental, often spiny, evergreen foliage, yellow flowers in autumn, winter and early spring, and blue-black berries. The flowers are borne in terminal clusters or spreading racemes, and may be among the earliest flowers to appear in the growing season.[4] The berries are edible, and rich in vitamin C, though with a very sharp flavor.[5] Although edible, the plants contain berberine, a compound found in many Berberis and Mahonia species which can cause vomiting, lowered blood pressure, reduced heart rate, lethargy, and other ill-effects when consumed in large quantities.[5]

Accepted Species

The following list includes all currently recognized species of the genus Mahonia as accepted by Tropicos, Missouri Botanical Garden as of February 2016, sorted alphabetically. For each, binomial name is followed by author citation.[6][7]

References

  1. ^ Flora of China Vol. 19 Page 772 十大功劳属 shi da gong lao shu Mahonia Nuttall, Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 1: 211. 1818.
  2. ^ "Mahonia". Germplasm Resources Information Network. Agricultural Research Service, United States Department of Agriculture.
  3. ^ "Berberis Linnaeus". Flora of North America.
  4. ^ RHS A-Z encyclopedia of garden plants. United Kingdom: Dorling Kindersley. 2008. p. 1136. ISBN 1405332964.
  5. ^ a b "Mahonia Oregon Grape, Hollyleaved barberry, Oregon Holly Grape, Oregon Holly PFAF Plant Database". www.pfaf.org. Retrieved 2016-02-17.
  6. ^ "Mahonia". Tropicos. Missouri Botanical Garden. Retrieved 17 February 2016.
  7. ^ "Mahonia". The Plant List. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Retrieved 17 February 2016. Note that this website has been superseded by World Flora Online
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