A subspecies orthobotrydi foliis brevibus, racemis brevibus subumbellatis vel subfascicularibus simplicibus vel paniculatis, in fructu capitatis congestis, bacca oblongo-subobovata vel subellipsoidea, pedicellis brevibus 6-8(-10) mm longis differt.
Erect, rigid, glabrous shrub; stems sulcate, red-brown to pale-whitish, verruculose or not. Leaves 1-2(-2.5) cm long, elliptic-obovate, 5-15 (-18) mm broad, 5-15 serrulate-spinose at margin, acute to obtuse, sessile to obscurely petiolate, greenish on both surfaces, reticulately veined with open to somewhat close venation. Racemes short, simple or compound or panicled, (5-) 10-20-flowered, sub-umbellate or subfascicled, 1.5-3 cm long in fruit with somewhat compact umbellate appearance. Fruits 7-8 (-10) mm long, 5-6 mm broad, oblong-subobovoid or subellipsoid, pale-reddish when dried, estylose; pedicels 5-10 mm long, diverg¬ing, sometimes reflexed; ovules 4, sessile; seeds 2-3, oblong-ellipsoid, c. 5 mm long, 2 mm broad, brown.
Fl.Per.: May-June.
Holotype: Baltistan, Skardu, 2600 m, 24. VI. 1955, fruit almost mature. E. Nasir & G. L. Webster 5782 (RAW).
Distribution: Pakistan and Kashmir.
An interesting taxon, resembling the type subspecies closely but inflorescence sometimes panicled, short congested, capitate in fruits. It also resembles Berberis kunawurensis Royle in panicled recemes but is glabrous (including pedicels) and the fruits are different. It may also be confused with Berberis pseudumbellate Parker and Berberis stewartiana Jafri but the fruits are smaller and pale red.
