Shrub, 1-2 m tall; stem glabrous, pale yellow, terete to subsulcate; internodes 2-3 cm long; spines 3-fid, 1-1.5 cm long. Leaves narrowly obovate-oblong, 3-6 cm long, 1-1.8 cm broad, subsessile to very shortly petioled, green, epruinose below, closely 15-25 spinulose-serrate at margin, reticulately veined. Racemes 3-4 cm long, laxly 8-10-flowered. Flowers 10-12 mm across; pedicels 8-17 mm long. Sepals larger than petals, outer ovate, c. 5.5 mm long, inner obovate, 6-7 mm long; petals broadly elliptic, c. 4.5 mm long, base not clawed. Stamens slightly shorter than petals, truncate at apex. Ovules 3-4, stipitate. Berries oblong-ellipsoid, 9-10 mm long, c. 5 mm broad, dark-red, epruinose, estylose or very shortly stylose.

Fl.Per.: June-July.

Type: Kashmir, Mantnar valley, near Desu, 11500 ft., fl. 22.6.1939, Ludlow 122 (BM).

Distribution: Endemic to Kashmir.

Resembles Berberis pachyacantha Koehne which usually has dark-red stems, broadly obovate, rounded leaves and only 2-ovuled ovary.

R.R. Stewart (l.c.) cites Duthie 10816 (K) under this species as well as under Berberis royleana Ahrendt. This is actually the type specimen of Berberis royleana, a smaller plant with entire leaves, smaller fascicled inflorescence and red-brown stem.