Berberis trifoliolata
| Mahonia trifoliolata | |
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| Species: | M. trifoliolata
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| Binomial name | |
| Mahonia trifoliolata (Moric.) Fedde
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Mahonia trifoliolata is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae that is native to Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona in the United States and northern Mexico as far south as Durango.[1] Common names include Agarita, Agrito, Algerita, Currant-of-Texas, Wild Currant, and Chaparral Berry. Several authorities consider the entire Mahonia genus as part of Berberis, in which case the scientific name becomes Berberis trifoliolata.[3][4][5][6]
Mahonia trifoliolata is an evergreen shrub that grows up to 6 ft (1.8 m) tall and wide. It is widely cultivated in desert regions. It is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and has a very high heat tolerance. The foliage is gray-green, and the leaflets have sharp points at the ends. The yellow flowers grow in clusters.[7]
Uses
The bright red edible fruits of the Agarita can be harvested around late April to early May. The fruits contain a slightly sweet and sour juice, when expelled the juice can be used to produce an Agarita wine or used simply as a fruit juice drink. The fruits also contain seeds and can be used to germinate new Agarita plants. The fruit is a red berry used in jellies.
Gallery
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Immature fruits in spring -
Ripe fruits -
Overall form -
Leaf arrangement
References
- ^ a b "Taxon: Berberis trifoliolata Moric". Germplasm Resources Information Network. United States Department of Agriculture. 2008-11-03. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
- ^ Tropicos Berberis trifoliolata
- ^ Flora of North America, vol 3.
- ^ Loconte, H., & J. R. Estes. 1989. Phylogenetic systematics of Berberidaceae and Ranunculales (Magnoliidae). Systematic Botany 14:565-579.
- ^ Marroquín, Jorge S., & Joseph E. Laferrière. 1997. Transfer of specific and infraspecific taxa from Mahonia to Berberis. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 30(1):53-55.
- ^ Laferrière, Joseph E. 1997. Transfer of specific and infraspecific taxa from Mahonia to Berberis. Bot. Zhurn. 82(9):96-99.
- ^ I.M. Johnstone, Journal of the Arnold Arboretum 31: 190. 1950.
- Agarita from the Texas Native Plants Database
External links
Media related to Mahonia trifoliolata at Wikimedia Commons
Data related to Mahonia trifoliolata at Wikispecies
