Berberis hispanica Boiss. & Reut. subsp. hispanica

Species

Family: BERBERIDACEAE

Genus: Berberis

Sinònims: Berberis vulgaris L. subsp. australis (Boiss.) Heywood

Catalan common name: Coralet.

Spanish common name: Agracejo andaluz.

Province distribution: Alacant.

General distribution (Phytogeography): Mediterranean (Eastern-Iberian)

Plants protected by law: País Valencià Catalogue.

IUCN Category: NENot evaluated

Flowering time: JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Life-forms: Phanerophyte. Nanophanerophyte.

Habitats: Hedges. Xero-acanthic shrubs of the mountanous regions, and steppe-grasslands of Ampelodesmos mauritanica. Thorny scrub and hedgerows in mid to high altitude Mediterranean mountains, above 1000 m, on calcareous soils.

Characteristics: Deciduous shrub with stems branching from the base, very intricate and spiny, up to 2 metres tall. Young branches reddish, turning bright yellow when injured. Mature branches purplish and angular, with strong yellow spines grouped in threes. Leaves clustered at the axils of the spines, obovate, leathery, entire or toothed. Inflorescence pendulous, bearing few (5-10) yellow flowers. Fruit an elongated bluish-black berry.

Observations: It can be confused with the subspecies seroi, more common in the northeastern Iberian Peninsula, which has yellowish young branches and inflorescences bearing more flowers.