Berberidaceae

The Berberidaceae (Barberry family) are mostly shrubs but can sometimes be herbaceous. The leaves are often turned into thorns. The family occurs from temperate to subtropical regions and is widespread in the Northern Hemisphere.

In the broad, modern taxonomy, the family contains about 700 species, 600 of them in the genus Berberis.

Berberis historically was used as a yellow colorant obtained from the stem, root and bark. The thorns of the barberry bush were also used to clean old gold coins, as they are soft enough not to damage the surface, but to remove corrosion and dirt.

The dried fruit of Berberis vulgaris is used in herbal medicine. It produces large crops of edible berries, rich in vitamin C, but with a tart sour taste. In Europe, the berries were used for culinary purposes for centuries, just like the peels of citrus fruits.

In the garden, Berberis species are planted as ornamentals for their graceful leaves as well as for their yellow flowers and red or dark blue berries. They also play a role in burglary prevention by planting them under low windows or in hedges, because their thorns are an effective repellent.