[Mahonia Nutt. Gen. 1: 211. 1818.]

Shrubs, with pinnate leaves of several or many coriaceous leaflets, and yellow racemose flowers, the branches not spiny, but the leaflets often with bristle-tipped teeth. Sepals mostly 6. Petals and stamens of the same number as the sepals. Filaments often dilated; anthers dehiscent by valves. Berries mostly blue or white. [Greek, swollen stamen.]

About 20 species, natives of North America and Asia. Type species: Berberis Aquifolium Pursh.

1. Odostemon Aquifòlium (Pursh) Rydb. Trailing Mahonia

Fig. 1957

Berberis Aquifolium Pursh, Fl. Am. Sept. 219.

1814. Berberis repens Lindl. Bot. Reg. pl. 1176. 1828. Mahonia repens Don, Gard. Dict. 1: 118. 1831. Odostemon Aquifolium Rydb. Bull. Torr. Club 33: 141. 1906.

A low trailing glabrous shrub. Leaves petioled, pinnate; leaflets 3-7, ovate, oval, or nearly orbicular, obtuse or acute at the apex, oblique and obtuse, truncate or slightly cordate at the base, sessile, thick, persistent, finely reticulated, dentate with spine-bearing teeth, 1-2' long; racemes several, erect, dense, terminal, many-flowered; flowers yellow, 3"-4" broad, short-pedicelled; bracts ovate, persistent; berry globose, blue or purple, about 3" in diameter.

Western Nebraska and throughout the Rocky Mountain region, extending to Arizona and British Columbia. Holly-leaf barberry. Grape-root. Rocky mountain or Oregon grape. April-May.