Berberis laurina facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Berberis laurina
Scientific classification
Genus:	Berberis
Species:	laurina

Berberis laurina is a thorny, woody shrub. It belongs to a group of plants called barberries. This plant can grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. Its leaves are usually bluish-green. They can turn yellow or red in fall and winter. This plant has pretty light yellow flowers that hang down. You can find Berberis laurina naturally only in Uruguay, southern Brazil, and the Misiones province of Argentina. In Uruguay, people call it espina amarilla, which means "yellow thorn." In Brazil, it's known as espinho-de-judeu.

What is Berberis Laurina?

Berberis laurina is a type of shrub that has thorns and woody stems. It can grow up to 2.5 meters (about 8 feet) tall. Its leaves stay green all year or for most of the year. The leaves are a cool bluish-green color. Sometimes, they change to yellow or red when it gets colder.

Where Does it Grow?

This plant grows naturally in South America. You can find it in Uruguay, southern Brazil, and the Misiones province in eastern Argentina. It likes these areas because of the climate.

Leaves and Thorns

The leaves of Berberis laurina are simple. They grow one after another along the stem. Sometimes, they look like they are in a circle. The leaves are smooth and feel a bit like leather. Each leaf has a short stem. The leaf itself is shaped like an oval. It can be 3 to 9 centimeters (about 1 to 3.5 inches) long. The edges of the leaves are smooth. But the tip often ends in a sharp spine. The thorns on the branches are interesting. They split into three parts. Each part is about 4 centimeters (about 1.5 inches) long. These thorns are usually yellowish.

Flowers and Fruit

The flowers of Berberis laurina grow in hanging bunches. These bunches are called racemes. They can be 6 to 11 centimeters (about 2.5 to 4.5 inches) long. Each flower hangs on a small stalk. The flowers are light yellow and look like stars. They are about 4 millimeters (less than half an inch) wide. Each flower has both male and female parts. The petals and sepals look very similar. There are twelve of these parts in total. They are arranged in four groups of three. The plant also has six stamens. These are the parts that make pollen. After the flowers, small fruits grow. They are oblong, meaning they are longer than they are wide. These berries are 6 to 8 millimeters (about a quarter of an inch) long. They are bluish-black when ripe. Each berry usually has one to three seeds inside.