Nevin's barberry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Nevin's barberry |
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Mahonia
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nevinii
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Mahonia nevinii is a special kind of flowering bush. It's also known as Nevin's barberry. You might hear it called Berberis nevinii or Odostemon nevinii too. It belongs to the barberry family.
This plant grows only in southern California. It's found in very few places, usually near rivers or streams in dry, bushy areas called chaparral. Nevin's barberry is a protected plant. Both California and the United States government have listed it as endangered. This happened in 1987 and 1998.
Scientists believe there are only about 500 of these plants left. About half of them grow naturally in the wild. People also grow Nevin's barberry in gardens and parks. They use it as a pretty plant or to create a thorny barrier.
Contents
What Nevin's Barberry Looks Like
Nevin's barberry is a tall, upright bush. It can grow up to 4 meters (about 13 feet) high. It stays green all year round. The plant has thick leaves that are dark green or bluish-green. These leaves have spiny, sharp edges and are shaped like spears.
In spring, usually between March and April, the bush gets bright yellow flowers. These flowers grow in clusters. Later, in the summer, the plant produces round, reddish berries. These berries grow in bunches and turn dark blue as they ripen.
An American botanist named Asa Gray first described this plant in 1895. He named it after another botanist, Reverend Joseph Cook Nevin. Reverend Nevin studied plants in China and Southern California.
Where Nevin's Barberry Grows
In the past, Nevin's barberry was found in sandy areas of the San Fernando Valley in California. Today, it grows in places between 300 and 610 meters (900 to 2,000 feet) high. You can find it in plant communities like coastal sage scrub and chaparral. It also likes sandy or gravelly spots and dry riverbeds.
This plant often grows near other native California plants. These include chamise, manzanitas, California sages, and ceanothus species.
There are only about 21 known groups of Nevin's barberry left. Most of these groups have fewer than 20 plants. Some have as few as 5 plants. In 1989, experts thought there were fewer than 500 plants in total. These small groups are spread across Los Angeles, San Bernardino, and Riverside Counties. You can also find them in Angeles National Forest and Cleveland National Forest.
Why Nevin's Barberry is in Danger
Many things threaten Nevin's barberry. Its habitat (the place where it lives) is shrinking. This happens because of new buildings and roads. Off-road vehicles and horseback riding can also damage its habitat.
Changes in wildfires and gold mining activities also hurt the plant. Chemicals used to kill pests can harm it too. Another big problem is non-native plants, like Spanish broom. These plants can take over and push out the native Nevin's barberry.
The plant also has trouble making new seeds easily or often. This means new plants don't grow as fast as other plants. For example, one plant at Dripping Springs took 56 years to successfully reproduce!
Growing Nevin's Barberry
People grow Nevin's barberry in gardens because it doesn't need much water. It's known as a drought-tolerant plant. Nurseries that specialize in native plants often sell it.
It's a great plant for wildlife gardens and natural landscaping. It's also used in xeriscaping (landscaping that saves water). This plant helps with habitat restoration projects too.
Because its leaves are spiny and dense, Nevin's barberry can make a good, strong hedge. Its berries appear in the summer, which is earlier or later than other chaparral plants. This makes it a good food source for birds when other berries might not be available. Theodore Payne first started growing this plant in California in the 1920s.
See also
In Spanish: Mahonia nevinii para niños
