Berberis lycium (Syn: B.pseudoumbellata)

Botanical Name:

Berberis lycium (Syn: B.pseudoumbellata)

Family Name:

Berberidaceae

Local Name:

Ishkeen

Urdu Name:

Kashmal

English name:

Berberry

Part used:

Fruit, roots bark

Flowering:

Description:

A semi deciduous shrub, 2 to 4 meter high, leaves lanceolate or narrowly obovate-oblong, entire or with a few large spinous teeth, arranged alternately on stem. Inflorescence a racemes, flowers yellow born in axillary clusters longer then the leaves. Fruit, berries black.

Habitat:

In Northern Areas found in Gilgit, Nomal, Nalter, Hunza, Nagar, Chilas, Puniyal, Ghupis.

Medicinal uses:

Barberry's roots are used as remedy for swollen and sore eyes, broken bones, wounds, gonorrhea, curative piles, unhealthy ulcers, acute conjunctive and in chronic opthalmia, also used as bitter tonic astringent, diaphoretic and febrifuge. Leaves are given in jaundice.

Locally, the plant is used for the treatment of internal injuries. An ointment made from root powder is mix with oil and applied on broken bones. It is also used for fencing and hedges.

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