Berberidaceae

Berberidaceae, the barberry family, is a family of flowering plants in the order Ranunculales. It comprises about 600 species in several genera, including Berberis, Mahonia, Epimedium, Podophyllum, Caulophyllum, Nandina, Jeffersonia and Dysosma. The group is predominantly temperate in the northern hemisphere, with greatest diversity in Asia, and members occur as shrubs, climbers, or herbaceous perennials in woodlands, scrublands and rocky habitats.

Leaves are usually alternate and may be simple or compound; many Berberis species have spiny shoots. Flowers are typically small, bisexual, and actinomorphic, often arranged in racemes or umbels, and commonly bearing six tepals and a modest number of stamens. The fruit is a berry or a dry capsule. A notable chemical feature is the presence of berberine, a yellow alkaloid found in roots, rhizomes and bark, which has traditional medicinal uses and has been used as a dye.

Several members are cultivated ornamentally for their foliage and flowers, including Epimedium and various Berberis and Mahonia cultivars, as well as Nandina domestica. Podophyllum species are valued for medicinal compounds such as podophyllotoxin but are toxic if ingested. Some barberry species, particularly Berberis thunbergii, have become invasive in parts of North America, prompting management measures.

In modern classification, Berberidaceae is placed in the order Ranunculales. The family is of mainly temperate distribution, with many species native to Asia, Europe, and North America. The group is recognized by its characteristic alkaloids and diverse growth forms, ranging from shrubs to herbaceous perennials.