Berberis angulosa - Large-Flowered Barberry

Large-Flowered Barberry is a rare Himalayan species of Berberis with the largest flowers and fruit of any of the thirteen species found in that range. Flowers are singly on pendulous stalks, 3-5 mm long. Bracteoles are ovate, about 3.5 x 2 mm, tip long pointed. Sepals are arranged in 2 whorls - outer sepals are elliptic, about 5.5 x 3.5 mm, inner sepals obovate, about 9.2 x 6.1 mm. Petals are obovate, about 6 x 4.8 mm, base clawed, glands separate and oblong, apex entire, rounded. Stamens are about 4 mm. It is a deciduous shrub up to 2 m tall. Branches are dark brown, velvety. Shoots are yellow-brown, softly hairy. Spines are simple or 3(or 5)-fid, 7-12 mm, slender. Leaves are shiny, pale yellow-green on the underside, shiny, yellow-green above, obovate, 1.5-2.5 x 0.7-1.4 cm, papery. Margins are entire, tip is blunt obtuse or pointed. Berry is shiny, red, round, 1-1.2 × 0.9-1.2 cm, style persistent or not. Large-Flowered Barberry is found in Eastern Himalayas, in Nepal, Sikkim, Assam, SE Tibet, at altitudes of 3400-4500 m. Flowering: May-June.