Barberry Herb, Berberis Vulgaris
The Barberry plant is known by many names like Pepperidge, Sowberry and Berbery. There is one name that it is called which is attributed to the way it was used in a historical occasion.
The plant is legendary for its use as a form of torture. The spiked stems where made into a circular form like a wreath.
This was used to crown Christianity?s Jesus Christ head when He was mockingly called as the ?King of the Jews? by the Romans who crucified Him.
This is why the Barberry is also called ?Holy Thorn?. The other berry species are known as mountain grape and common grape.
The berries are edible, can be used for decoration, and for medical applications. The fruit is usually made into jams and jellies.
The roots are boiled in lye that is for dyeing leather. The shrubs can be found in many countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and the Americas.
The shrub is also used for landscaping gardens. It is one of the favorite hedge plants as it requires little maintenance.
The tightly growing stems with the thorns make it perfect for creating hedges for protections.
Another reason why this plant is favored is because when it is in flower and the berries appear, it is very appealing to look at.
Description
The plant has ash colored woody stems with sharp thorns. It can grow to a height of up 10 feet.
It is a hardy shrub that can survive both hot and cold extreme weather conditions. It prefers sandy soil though will also survive in amended loam or clay.
It has pale yellow flowers that emit a fragrance that is neither neither appealing nor offensive. When the stamina is touched, it springs back and retreats into the flower.
Bees have been observed to stay poised on the petal, to jump off and strike their antlers against the stigma to explode the pollen.
As insects are numerous during the sunny weather that is the perfect time for Barberry shrubs to pollinate, this explosive action created by bees and other insects work in their favor.
It can be propagated by suckers, cuttings, or seeds. The ideal planting time for the young suckers and cuttings is in autumn. The seeds can be planted in spring or autumn.
The berries are red when ripe and are ? inch oblongs. The taste of these fruits is quite pleasant, though more on the acidic side, similar to that of the tamarind fruit. The green leaves of this plant can also be used as a seasoning and eaten raw as a salad.
Medical Uses
The ancients Egyptians drank a mixture of fruits and Fennel seed to prevent getting the plague. This was a medical remedy that highly valued that it was given exclusively to their royalty.
To this day, Egyptians use the herb as a fever remedy as it relieves thirst and lowers abnormal body heat. It is used to treat other medical ailments such as scurvy, urinary tract infection, constipation, and jaundice. It also helps strengthen the immune system.
_________________________________________________________________
Top of Barberry Herb
Listed under Growing Herbs
No comments:
Post a Comment