{{Short description|Species of shrub}} {{Speciesbox |image = BerberisAculeata.jpg |image_caption = |genus = Berberis |species = aristata |authority = DC. }}
'''''Berberis aristata''''', also known as '''Indian barberry''', '''Mara manjal (மரமஞ்சள்)''', '''chutro''', '''sumba''', sumbal '''Daruharidra''', or '''tree turmeric''', is a shrub belonging to the family [[Berberidaceae]] and the genus ''[[Berberis]]''. ''B. aristata'' is native to the [[Himalayas]] in India and in Pakistan and in Nepal.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gbif.org/species/3982087 |title=''Berberis aristata'' DC. |publisher=Global Biodiversity Information Facility |accessdate=22 June 2022 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125172950/https://www.gbif.org/species/3982087 |archivedate=25 January 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Ray |first1=Rajasri |first2=K. V. |last2=Gururaja |first3=T. V. |last3=Ramchandra |year=2011 |title=Predictive distribution modeling for rare Himalayan medicinal plant ''Berberis aristata'' DC |journal=Journal of Environmental Biology |volume=32 |issue=6 |pages=725–730 |pmid=22471208 |url=http://jeb.co.in/journal_issues/201111_nov11/paper_07.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125011413/http://jeb.co.in/journal_issues/201111_nov11/paper_07.pdf |archive-date=25 November 2011 |url-status=live }}</ref> It is also naturally found in the [[Nilgiri Mountains]] of southern India and in [[Sri Lanka]].<ref>{{Cite journal|last1=Rathi |first1=Bhawana |last2=Sahu |first2=Juhi |last3=Koul |first3=Sameksha |last4=Kosha |first4=R. L. |year=2013 |title=Detailed pharmacognostical studies on ''Berberis aristata'' DC plant |journal=Ancient Science of Life |volume=32 |issue=4 |pages=234–240 |pmc=4078475 |pmid=24991073 |doi=10.4103/0257-7941.131981 |doi-access=free }}</ref>
==Morphology== ''Berberis aristata'' is characterized by an erect spiny shrub, ranging between {{convert|2|and|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} in height. It is a woody plant, with bark that appears yellow to brown from the outside and deep yellow from the inside. The bark is covered with three-branched thorns, which are modified leaves, and can be removed by hand in longitudinal strips. The leaves are arranged in tufts of five to eight and are approximately {{convert|4.9|cm|abbr=on}} long and {{convert|1.8|cm|abbr=on}} broad. The leaves are deep green on the dorsal surface and light green on the ventral surface. The leaves are simple with pinnate venation. The leaves are leathery in texture and are toothed, with several to many small indentations along the margin of the leaf.<ref name=Parmar>{{cite book | author = Parmar, C. | author2 = M.K. Kaushal | name-list-style = amp | date = 1982 | title = Berberis aristata, in: "Wild Fruits" | pages = 10–14 | publisher = Kalyani Publishers | location = New Delhi, India | url = https://www.hort.purdue.edu/newcrop/parmar/03.html}}</ref>
==Flowers and fruits== [[File:Berberis aristata fruit.jpg|left|thumb|alt= Berberis aristata fruits|''Berberis aristata'' fruits]] The flowering season begins in mid-March and lasts throughout the month of April.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.floracafe.com/Search_PhotoDetails.aspx?Photo%3DAll%26Id%3D476 |title=''Berberis aristata'' DC. |publisher=Flora Cafe |accessdate=2011-05-11 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320100038/http://www.floracafe.com/Search_PhotoDetails.aspx?Photo=All&Id=476 |archivedate=2012-03-20 }}</ref> The yellow flowers that develop are complete and hermaphroditic. The average diameter of a fully opened flower is {{convert|12.5|mm|abbr=on}}. The flowers form a racemose [[inflorescence]], with 11 to 16 flowers per [[raceme]], arranged along a central stem. The flower is polysepalous, with three large and three small sepals, and polypetalous, with six petals in total. The male reproductive structure, the [[androecium]], is polyandrous and contains six stamens, {{convert|5-6|mm|abbr=on}} long. There is one female reproductive structure, the [[gynoecium]], which is {{convert|4-5|mm|abbr=on}} long and is composed of a short style and a broad stigma. The plant produces bunches of succulent, acidic, edible berries that are bright red in color and have medicinal properties. The fruits start ripening from the second week of May and continue to do so throughout June. The berries are approximately {{convert|7|mm|abbr=on}} long, {{convert|4|mm|abbr=on}} in diameter, and weigh about {{convert|227|mg|oz|abbr=on}}.<ref name=Parmar/>
==Uses== The fruits of the species are eaten by people living in areas where the plant is found, often as a dessert. They are juicy and contain plenty of sugars and other useful nutrients that supplement their diet. The roots can also be used for making an alcoholic drink.
The plant as a whole is a good source of dye and tannin which is used for dyeing clothes and for tanning leather.<ref name=Parmar/>
===Medicinal uses=== [[Image:Berberin.svg|thumb|Chemical structure of [[berberine]], an alkaloid found in ''B. aristata'']] In India, ''B. aristata'' is used in traditional herbal medicine. Its stem, roots, and fruits are used in [[Ayurveda]].<ref>{{cite journal | title = Developing the medicinal plants sector in northern India: challenges and opportunities | author = Kala, C.P. | display-authors = etal | date = 2006 | journal = Journal of Ethnobiology and Ethnomedicine | volume = 2 | pages = 32 | doi = 10.1186/1746-4269-2-32 | pmc = 1562365 | doi-access = free }}</ref>
A preparation called rasaunt is prepared by boiling the bark of the root and of the lower part of the stem in water. The solution is then strained and evaporated until a semi-solid mass, rasaunt, is obtained. It is mixed with either butter and alum, or with opium and lime-juice.<ref name=Parmar/>
The root bark contains the bitter alkaloid [[berberine]], which has been studied for its potential pharmacological properties.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.webmd.com/vitamins/ai/ingredientmono-1126/berberine | title = Berberine | publisher = [[WebMD]]}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Taxonbar|from=Q814377}}
[[Category:Berberis|aristata]] [[Category:Flora of Asia]]