P h o t o b y C h r i s A . F l e m i n g @ T E N N
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Habitat:
Limestone woodlands.
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Species Description:
A sparsely branched shrub, 0.3-2 m tall with forked or 3-pronged spines on its branches. Branchlets are brown, purple or reddish and rough-warty. The leaves are generally obovate, 2-6 cm long, with non-distinct veinlets below, margins with up to 20 teeth. The 5-10 flowers are in racemes up to 2-6 cm long. Flower petals are yellow, notched, 2.5-3.5 mm long with basal glands. The calyx is 8-11 mm wide with inner sepals 3-4 mm long. Fruits are ovoid, fleshy, red berries, 5-7 mm long. (Gleason and Cronquist 1991).
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Phenology:
Flowering Period: Early May to late May.
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Additional Information at NatureServe
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Diagnostic Characteristics:
Berberis canadensis may be distinguished from the similar B. vulgaris and B. thunbergii by the character of its leaf margins. Berberis canadensis possesses serrulate leaves, while those of B. vulgaris are finely spinulose-denticulate and those of B. thunbergii are entire (Fernald 1970, Gleason 1952). Berberis is a low spiny shrub with yellow flowers and red fruit.
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Management:
Disturbance such as ATV trails, timber removal or any activity that results in increased erosion and weed invasion will be detrimental.
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Global Range:
Southeast United States: Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, with scattered, disjunct remnant populations in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, and Missouri. Considered extirpated from Alabama.
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Known Kentucky Occurrences:
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