Sikkim Barberry is an evergreen shrub 3 to 5 ft high,
producing a dense thicket of erect, angled stems, which branch near the
top; young twigs not downy. Spines are usually three-forked, each fork
slender, rigid, 1.2-2.5 cm long. Leaves are in clusters, lanceshaped to
obovate; 2.5-7.5 cm long, 1.2-2.5 cm wide; leathery, almost stalkless;
dark green above, glaucous white beneath; the margins armed with
slender teeth. Flowers arise singly on their stalks, borne in clusters
of 3-6 at each cluster of leaves; 1.6 cm across, pale yellow, the
sepals tinged with red. Berries are narrow, cylindrical, 1.2 cm long,
tapering towards the end; black-purple, often remaining on the plant
until the following spring. Sikkim Barberry is found in Eastern
Himalaya, from Central Nepal to N. Myanmar and S. Tibet, at altitudes
of 2500-3500 m.
Identification credit: Morten Ross
Photographed in Sikkim.
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The flower labeled Sikkim Barberry is ...