creeping oregongrape, low oregongrape Barberry Berberidaceae Berberis repens
Lindl.
This low growing, creeping plant appears at first to be an herb, but is actually
a shrub with compound, evergreen leaves with 5 or 7 leaflets. Each leaflet is
similar to a holly leaf with spines all along its margins. The leaves often
turn a beautiful maroon in the fall and winter. The plant spreads by underground
branching, thus what appears to be a dozen plants is actually only one plant.
It is rarely over 30 cm (12 inches tall). The upper leaves tend to be ascending
from the short woody stem which is terminated by a raceme of yellow flowers.
The fruits are waxy blue and are grape-like. The fruits are somewhat sour with
an alum affect when eaten fresh. The flowers are excellent if sauted and added
to batter for muffins or pancakes. The fruits also make a nice addition to muffins
or pancakes. Native Americans used the entire plant to make a dulled greenish
yellow dye. Alum was used as a mordant. The boiled bark from the roots makes
a brilliant yellow dye. Flathead and Kootenai Indians mashed the berries in
a bowl and added milk and sugar for a very tasty desert. The berries can also
be used to make jams, jellies, and wine. An alkaloid, berberine, has been found
to stimulate involuntary muscles. Flathead Indians also used the plant as an
antiseptic to clean wounds and cuts. It was also used to treat gonorrhea and
syphilis. Also it was used as a diuretic, for stomach troubles, as a contraceptive,
to treat rheumatism and as an appetite stimulant. The National Standard Dispensatory
lists other uses as a tonic, stimulant, antiperiodic, and antiscorbutic, and
as a treatment for dyspepsia, diarrhea, dysentery, psoriasis, eczema, and chronic
uterine diseases but warns that overuse can be fatal.
Berberis repens Lindl. Creeping or Low Oregon-grape Berberidaceae Barberry Family
CHARACTERISTICS
Low growing shrub with yellow wood and coriaceous, evergreen and prickly edged
leaflets
1.5-8 dm tall, arising from long, branching rootstocks
LEAVES
Pinnately compound with 5-7, spinulose margined, coriaceous leaflets
glossy or dull on upper surface, always dull and glaucous on lower surface
lower surface covered with minute papillae
FLOWERS
Perianth (sepals and Petals) of 4or 5 whorls of 3 distinct members each, the
outer 1-2 series often deciduous and bractlike. Sepals and petals apparently
6 each, alike or dissimilar
the inner series of petals often glandular at base.
stamens as many as petals and opposite them or fewer or more
anthers opening by 2 uplifting valves
FRUIT
a one carpellary, 1- celled, 1-several seeded berry
HABITAT
foothills to lower montane, often in talus slopes
DISTRIBUTION
Eastern Washington south, east of the Cascades to northeast California east
to Alberta, Sought Dakota, south to Texas, New Mexico, Utah and Nevada
OTHER
Flowers can be sauted and put into muffins, pancakes, etc.
Fruits can be made into juice, jam, jelly and wine.
It can be used as a bitter tonic for impaired salivary and gastric secretions,
as a stimulant to liver and skin protein metabolism and as an antimicrobial
for skin and intestinal tract. It is said to aid digestion and absorption of
food. It can be used to alleviate psoriasis.