Berberis vulgaris, also known as common barberry,[3]European barberry or simply barberry, is a shrub in the genus Berberis native to the Old World. It produces edible but sharply acidic berries, which people in many countries eat as a tart and refreshing fruit.
Description
It is a deciduousshrub growing up to 4 metres (13 feet) high. The leaves are small, oval, 2–5 centimetres (3⁄4–2 inches) long and 1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) broad, with a serrated margin; they are borne in clusters of 2–5 together, subtended by a three-branched spine 3–8 millimetres (1⁄8–5⁄16 in) long. The flowers are yellow, 4–6 mm (1⁄8–1⁄4 in) across, produced on 3–6 cm (1+1⁄8–2+3⁄8 in) long panicles in late spring. The fruit is an oblong red berry 7–10 mm (1⁄4–3⁄8 in) long and 3–5 mm (1⁄8–3⁄16 in) broad, ripening in late summer or autumn.
The edible berries,[9] though rich in vitamin C, have a very sharp or sour flavour and are not widely consumed because the thorny shrubs make them difficult to harvest.
In Europe, the berries have been traditionally used as an ingredient in making jam. The berries are high in pectin which makes the jam congeal as it cools after having been boiled. In southwestern Asia, especially Iran, the berries are used for cooking, as well as for jam-making. In Iran, barberries are commonly used as a currant in rice pilaf.
زرشکzerešk is the Persian name for the dried fruit of Berberis spp., particularly also that of Berberis integerrima called زرشک بیدانهzerešk bi-dâne, literally 'seedless barberry',[10] which is widely cultivated in Iran. Iran is the largest producer of zerešk.
The South Khorasan province in Iran is the main area of zerešk and saffron production in the world, especially around Birjand and Qaen. About 85% of production is in Qaen and about 15% in Birjand. There is evidence of cultivation of seedless barberry in South Khorasan two hundred years ago.[11] A garden of zerešk is called زرشکستانzerešk-estân. Zerešk is widely used in cooking, imparting a tart flavour to chicken dishes. It is usually cooked with rice, called زرشک پلوzerešk polo, and provides a meal with chicken.
Other uses
The plant has been widely cultivated for hedges in New Zealand.[12]
A decoction of the plant has been used as a folk medicine to treat gastrointestinal ailments and coughs,[13] although its use has been limited due to the bitter taste of the bark and root.[14][15]
See also
Berberis microphylla, calafate (a related shrub with similar berries, native in temperate South America)
References
^1885 illustration from Prof. Dr. Otto Wilhelm Thomé Flora von Deutschland, Österreich und der Schweiz 1885, Gera, Germany
^Alemardan, Ali; Asadi, Wahab; Rezaei, Mehdi; Tabrizi, Leila; Mohammadi, Siavash (2013). "Cultivation of Iranian seedless barberry (Berberis integerrima 'Bidaneh'): A medicinal shrub". Industrial Crops and Products. 50: 276–87. doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.07.061.
^Tehranifar, A. (2003). "Barberry Growing in Iran". In Lee, J-M.; Zhang, D. (eds.). XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural Practices, and Utilization. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 620. pp. 193–5. ISBN978-90-66054-00-4. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2014.
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