Mahonia

Mahonia is a genus of about 70 species of evergreen shrubs in the family Berberidaceae, native to eastern Asia, the Himalayas, North America and Central America. They are closely related to the genus Berberis. Botanists disagree on the acceptability of the genus name Mahonia. Several authorities argue plants in this genus should be included in the genus Berberis because several species in both genera are able to hybridize, and because when the two genera are looked at as a whole, there is no definite morphological separation. For more information on this consult the Flora of North America. Mahonia typically have large, pinnate leaves 10-50 cm long with 5-15 leaflets, and flowers in racemes(5-20 cm long).

Several species are popular garden shrubs, grown for their ornamental evergreen foliage, yellow flowers in winter/early spring, and blue-black berries. The berries are edible, and rich in vitamin C, though with a very sharp flavor.


Selected species
Mahonia aquifolium - Oregon-grape is an evergreen shrub related to the barberry. Oregon-grape grows to 1-5 m tall. Its leathery leaves resemble holly and the stems and twigs have a thickened, corky appearance. The flowers, borne in late spring, are an attractive yellow. Oregon-grape is used in landscaping similarly to barberry, as a plant suited for low-maintenance plantings and loose hedges. Oregon-grape is resistant to summer drought, tolerates poor soils, and does not create excessive leaf litter. Its berries attract birds.

Mahonia nervosa - Dwarf Oregon-grape (Mahonia nervosa, syn. Berberis nervosa), also called Cascade Oregon-grape, is a flowering plant native to the northwest coast of North America from southern British Columbia south to central California, with an isolated population inland in northern Idaho.
It is an evergreen shrub with short vertical stems, mostly under 30 cm, while the leaves reach higher, rarely up to 2 m tall. The leaves are compound, with 9-19 leaflets; each leaflet is strongly toothed, reminiscent of holly, and somewhat shiny, but less so than Tall Oregon-grape. The leaflets do not have a single central vein as in that species, but several veins arranged fan-like, branched from the leaflet base, hence the epithet nervosa. The flowers and fruit are like those of other Oregon-grapes; like them they are edible but just as sour.

Mahonia nevinii (syn. Berberis nevinii) is a species of flowering shrub in the barberry family known by the common name Nevin's barberry. This plant is endemic to southern California, where it is known from very few occurrences in the chaparral of inland canyons and foothills. It is a federal and state listed endangered species; there are thought to be about 500 individuals remaining in the wild. It is also widely cultivated in gardens and parks. This is an erect shrub approaching a maximum height of four meters. It has a dense foliage of dark green to bluish-green spiny-toothed, spear-shaped leaflets. It flowers in racemes of 3 to 5 bright yellow cup-shaped, layered blossoms. The fruit is a spherical reddish berry appearing in bunches.

Mahonia decipiens. It is endemic to China.

Mahonia conferta

Mahonia trifoliolata - Agarita is a rounded evergreen shrub in the family Berberidaceae. It is also called Agrito, Algerita, Currant-of-Texas, Wild Currant, or Chaparral Berry. Several authorities argue that this species should be included in the genus Berberis because it is able to hybridize with Berberis species. Agarita grows up to 6 feet tall and 6 feet wide. It is low maintenance, drought tolerant, and has a very high heat tolerance. The fruit is a red berry used in jellies, and the yellow flowers grow in clusters. The foliage is gray-green, and the leaflets have sharp points at the ends. It grows natively in Texas, Arizona, and Northern Mexico.

Mahonia oiwakensis. Taiwan.

Mahonia repens - Creeping Mahonia, Creeping Oregon-grape or Creeping barberry, is the species of Mahonia native to the Rocky Mountains and adjacent areas of North America, from British Columbia and Alberta in the north to Arizona and New Mexico in the south. It is also found in some areas of California and Nevada. Its range extends just into Mexico. Creeping Mahonia is a typical mahonia with conspicuous matt blue berries and shiny leaves. It grows as a subshrub. The yellow flowers appear in the middle of spring, and the blue berries in early summer. It is a hardy plant, tolerant of drought, frost and heat, so it is popular with gardeners. Berries and foliage are resistant to attack by deer, and although it is evergreen, in fall the leaves turn an attracting bronze. It can provide good ground cover in a cold situation. In garden conditions, and where their ranges overlap in nature, it hybridises readily with Oregon-grape, Mahonia aquifolia, and the hybrids are less prostrate in their habit than the pure stock.

Oncidium

Oncidium, abbreviated as Onc in horticultural trade, is a genus that contains about 330 species of orchids from the subfamily Epidendroideae of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). This is a complex, difficult genus, with many species being... more >>>

Templetonia

Templetonia is a genus of flowering plants in the family Fabaceae. They are native to Australia. The genus is named in honour of John Templeton, an Irish naturalist and botanist.


Species
Templetonia... more >>>

Caesalpinia

Caesalpinia is the name of a genus of controversial size (different publications including between 70 and 165 species, mostly depending on inclusion or exclusion of various genera such as Hoffmanseggia), consisting of tropical and subtropical... more >>>

Nautilocalyx

Nautilocalyx is a genus of plant in family Gesneriaceae.


Species
Nautilocalyx ecuadoranus is a species of plant in the Gesneriaceae family. It is endemic to Ecuador. Its natural habitats are subtropical or... more >>>

Nerium oleander

Oleander (Nerium oleander), is an evergreen shrub or small tree in the dogbane family Apocynaceae. It is the only species currently classified in the genus Nerium.

Other names include Adefla, Alheli Extranjero, Baladre,... more >>>