Shrub, c. 3 m tall, with dark-red, sulcate stem, glabrous; internodes 8-15 (-25) mm long; spines (1-) 3-fid, 8-15 (-20) mm long. Leaves 10-25 (-35) mm long, 4-10 (-15) mm broad, obovate to oblong-obovate, including 1-5 mm long petiole, entire, acute to rounded at apex, green to somewhat glaucous, openly reticulately veined. Inflorescence (2-) 4-8 (-15)-flowered, 1-2 (-3) cm long, fascicled racemose. Flowers 6-8 mm across; pedicels 4-8 mm long, glabrous. Ovules 1-3. Berries 6-7 mm. long, 4-4.5 mm broad, oblongellipsoid, dark, pruinose, grey-white, estylose or indistinctly stylose.

Fl. Per.: May.

Type: Afghanistan, Kurrum valley, near Sergal, 9000-11000 ft., 10.8.1879, Aitchison 176/5 (K).

Distribution: Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Differs from Berberis orthobotrys Bien. ex Aitch., in its entire, narrow leaves, and somewhat dark-coloured fruits with 1-3 ovules. Stainton’s specimen cited above is somewhat intermediate between this species and Berberis royleana Ahrendt, in having somewhat longer leaves with rounded apices, but appearance different, petals very shortly clawed with glands outside the claw, and fruits (young) smaller and narrower. Also differs from Berberis baluchistanica Ahrendt, by its smaller flowers, few-flowered inflorescence, and openly veined leaves.