Berberis gracilis is a species of flowering plant in the family Berberidaceae, commonly referred to as a barberry. The name follows the binomial nomenclature system, with Berberis designating the genus and gracilis the specific epithet, which is Latin for “slender” or “graceful.”
Taxonomy
- Kingdom: Plantae
- Clade: Angiosperms
- Clade: Eudicots
- Order: Ranunculales
- Family: Berberidaceae
- Genus: Berberis
- Species: Berberis gracilis
The authority for the name is attributed to Franchet (abbreviated Franch.), who first described the species; the name has been accepted and listed in the International Plant Names Index (IPNI) and the Plants of the World Online (POWO) database maintained by the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
Distribution
Berberis gracilis is recorded as native to parts of East Asia, with herbarium specimens and botanical literature indicating occurrence in China, particularly in the provinces of Sichuan, Yunnan, and adjacent regions of the Hengduan Mountains.
Habitat
The species is typically found in montane environments, growing on forest margins, shrublands, and rocky slopes at mid‑ to high elevations. Precise elevation ranges and ecological preferences are not comprehensively documented in the publicly available literature.
Morphology
While general characteristics of the genus Berberis include deciduous or evergreen shrubs with spiny shoots, simple alternate leaves, yellow to orange flowers, and red or black berries, specific morphological details for B. gracilis (such as plant height, leaf dimensions, inflorescence structure, and fruit size) are not extensively detailed in readily accessible taxonomic references.
Conservation Status
No assessment of Berberis gracilis has been published by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, and its conservation status remains unquantified in major databases.
Notes
- Synonymy: No widely recognized synonyms are listed for Berberis gracilis in major taxonomic repositories; however, ongoing taxonomic revisions within the genus may affect its nomenclatural status.
- Uses: There are no documented ethnobotanical or horticultural uses specifically attributed to Berberis gracilis in the literature surveyed.
References
- International Plant Names Index (IPNI). Berberis gracilis Franch. Accessed 2026.
- Plants of the World Online (POWO), Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Berberis gracilis Franch. Accessed 2026.
- Wu, Z. Y., & Raven, P. H. (1999). Flora of China, Vol. 19: Berberidaceae. Science Press, Beijing; Missouri Botanical Garden Press.
The above information reflects the current state of publicly available, peer‑reviewed botanical references. Detailed morphological and ecological data for Berberis gracilis are limited; further field studies and taxonomic revisions may provide additional insights.
