Berberis vulgaris, also known ascommon barberry,[3]European barberry or simplybarberry, is ashrub in the genusBerberis native to theOld World. It produces edible but sharply acidic berries, which people in many countries eat as a tart and refreshing fruit.
It is adeciduousshrub growing up to 4 metres (13 feet) high. Theleaves are small, oval, 2–5 centimetres (3⁄4–2 inches) long and1–2 cm (1⁄2–3⁄4 in) broad, with a serrated margin; they are borne in clusters of 2–5 together, subtended by a three-branched spine3–8 millimetres (1⁄8–5⁄16 in) long. Theflowers are yellow,4–6 mm (1⁄8–1⁄4 in) across, produced on3–6 cm (1+1⁄8–2+3⁄8 in) longpanicles in late spring. Thefruit is an oblong redberry7–10 mm (1⁄4–3⁄8 in) long and3–5 mm (1⁄8–3⁄16 in) broad, ripening in late summer or autumn.
The edible berries,[9] though rich invitamin C, have a very sharp or sour flavour and are not widely consumed because the thorny shrubs make them difficult to harvest.
In Europe, the berries have been traditionally used as an ingredient in makingjam. The berries are high inpectin which makes the jam congeal as it cools after having been boiled. In southwestern Asia, especially Iran, the berries are used for cooking, as well as for jam-making. In Iran, barberries are commonly used as a currant inrice pilaf.
زرشکzerešk is thePersian name for the driedfruit ofBerberis spp., particularly also that ofBerberis integerrima calledزرشکبیدانهzerešk bi-dâne, literally 'seedless barberry',[10] which is widely cultivated inIran. Iran is the largest producer ofzerešk.
TheSouth Khorasan province inIran is the main area ofzerešk andsaffron production in the world, especially aroundBirjand andQaen. About 85% of production is in Qaen and about 15% in Birjand. There is evidence of cultivation of seedless barberry in South Khorasan two hundred years ago.[11] A garden ofzerešk is calledزرشکستانzerešk-estân. Zerešk is widely used in cooking, imparting a tart flavour to chicken dishes. It is usually cooked withrice, calledزرشکپلوzerešk polo, and provides a meal with chicken.
The plant has been widely cultivated for hedges inNew Zealand.[12]
Adecoction of the plant has been used as a folk medicine to treatgastrointestinal ailments and coughs,[13] although its use has been limited due to the bitter taste of the bark and root.[14][15]
^Alemardan, Ali; Asadi, Wahab; Rezaei, Mehdi; Tabrizi, Leila; Mohammadi, Siavash (2013). "Cultivation of Iranian seedless barberry (Berberis integerrima 'Bidaneh'): A medicinal shrub".Industrial Crops and Products.50:276–87.doi:10.1016/j.indcrop.2013.07.061.
^Tehranifar, A. (2003)."Barberry Growing in Iran". In Lee, J-M.; Zhang, D. (eds.).XXVI International Horticultural Congress: Asian Plants with Unique Horticultural Potential: Genetic Resources, Cultural Practices, and Utilization. ISHS Acta Horticulturae 620. pp. 193–5.ISBN978-90-66054-00-4. Archived fromthe original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved15 January 2014.
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