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Barberry family
Berberidaceae
メギ科
A family of about 14 genera and 700 species including Berberis, Nandina, Mahonia, and Epimedium. Widely distributed in temperate regions of the Northern Hemisphere. Rich in yellow alkaloids (berberine), also used in traditional medicine.
Key Characteristics
- ●Petals and sepals trimerous (3–6 each)
- ●Stamens exhibit touch-sensitive movement, snapping inward to deposit pollen on visiting insects
- ●Contain yellow alkaloids such as berberine
- ●Some species bear spiny leaves (e.g., Berberis)
- ●Fruits are berries or capsules
Morphological Traits
A family may include species with different trait values — multiple values indicate the range within the family.
Leaf arrangement
Alternate / Whorled
Leaf type
Simple / Compound
Venation
Pinnate
Leaf margin
Dentate / Entire
Growth form
Shrub / Herb
Evergreen/Deciduous
Evergreen / Deciduous
Compound type
Ternate / Pinnate
Leaf dissection
Dissected / Undivided
Stipules
Present / Absent
Flower symmetry
Actinomorphic
Petal count
Many
Petal fusion
Free
Ovary position
Superior
Stamen count
3-4
Plant sex
Hermaphrodite
Phylogenetic Position
Angiosperms > Basal eudicots > Ranunculales > Berberidaceae
Divergence Era
Late Cretaceous to Paleogene (approx. 70 million years ago)
Representative Genera
Related Evolution Events
- ・Evolution of the stamen 'spring' mechanism for pollen deposition
- ・Establishment of the berberine biosynthesis pathway (antimicrobial and herbivore deterrent)
Plants in Barberry family on this site
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