Scientific Name
Berberis lycium Royle
Synonyms
Family
Berberidaceae
Local Name
Kala Simlu
Habit Habitat
It is a spiny shrub common in temperateand subalpine zones.
Taxonomic Features
Stem dark grey, glabrescent, spiny,spines yellowish to straw colour. Leaves simple,oblanceolate to oblong-obovate,entire 1-4 spines at margins. Inflorescence a raceme10-25flowered. Flower actinomorphic, 6-8mm across, pale yellow. Sepals obovate, 3mm broad. Petals obovate,emarginated with lanceolate basal glands. Fruit a green berry, becomes reddish black on ripening.
Flowering Fruiting
March-July
Harvesting Time
June-December
Medicinal Value
Root has antipyretic, febrifuge, carminative, anticancer and antiprotozoal properties,used in eye diseases, piles, diarrhoea. Berberine has anti-inflammatory activity. Locally crushed leaves and stem and root bark are used for wounds healings, of blood pressure and control diabetes. It is used in powder, extract, infusion, paste and decoction forms.
Parts Used
Root, stem, bark and leaf.
Future Prospective
Collection, herbal pharmacy, allopathic pharmacy.
Plant Images
Berberis lycium Royle