川西小檗 chuan xi xiao bo

Berberis diaphana Maximowicz var. tachiensis Ahrendt, p.p.; B. elliotii Ahrendt; B. tischleri var. abbreviata Ahrendt.

Shrubs, deciduous, 2-3 m tall. Branches blackish gray; shoots grayish yellow, sulcate, not verruculose; spines 3-fid, pale yellow, 1-2.5 cm, adaxially sulcate. Petiole 2-3 mm; leaf blade abaxially gray-green, adaxially dark green, oblong-obovate or obovate, 1.5-4.5 × 0.8-2.4 cm, thinly papery, abaxially sometimes slightly pruinose, midvein slightly raised, lateral and reticulate veins conspicuous, adaxially with flat midvein, sometimes slightly impressed, lateral and reticulate veins slightly conspicuous, base cuneate, margin entire or 2-8-spinulose-serrulate on each side, apex rounded, obtuse. Inflorescence an umbellate raceme, 4-15-flowered, 4-10 cm including peduncle 1-3 cm, glabrous; bracts lanceolate, 2-3 mm. Sepals in 2 whorls; outer sepals narrowly ovate, ca. 5 × 2 mm, apex acute; inner sepals narrowly oblong-obovate, ca. 6.3 × 3.3 mm, apex acute. Petals obovate, ca. 4 × 2 mm, base cuneate, with separate glands, apex emarginate. Stamens ca. 3.5 mm; anther connective slightly prolonged, apiculate. Ovules 3 or 4. Berry red, ovoid-oblong, 1-1.6 cm × 5-6 mm, not pruinose, apex attenuate, slightly bent; style persistent, short. Fl. May-Jun, fr. Jul-Sep.

● Thickets, forests; 1500-3800 m. Sichuan, Xizang.