BERBERIDACEAE

the barberry family of the buttercup order (Ranunculales), comprising 12 genera of perennial herbs and shrubs. Its members occur in most temperate regions of the world. In the shrubs the leaves are spiny-margined. The form of the flower is highly variable. The most important and largest genus is Berberis, with about 500 species, among which are many ornamentals, including the barberry. Other members of interest include heavenly bamboo (Nandina domestica), an indoor pot plant; mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum), a woodland wildflower; Epimedium, a ground cover; and Oregon grape (Mahonia), a genus of broad-leaved evergreen shrubs.