2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38
Mahonia aquifolium (lat. Mahonia aquifolium) - a fruit shrub from the Barberry family. This culture is also called holly grapes, as well as lily of the valley shrubs or holly barberry.
Description
Mahonia holly is a beautiful evergreen shrub, the height of which almost never exceeds one meter. Due to the active growth of the root system (that is, numerous root suckers), it forms very dense thickets. Young shoots boast a spectacular pinkish-grayish bark, and on older trees the bark is usually brownish-grayish, with numerous longitudinal stripes.
The odd-pinnate leathery leaves of Mahonia holly are formed by five to nine leaves, which are almost always endowed with reddish petioles. And the length of the leaves can vary from fifteen to twenty centimeters. Above, the leaves are glossy and dark green, and the network of veins is pressed into the pulp of the leaves. And below the leaves are pale green and dull, with notched-sharp-toothed edges.
The flowers of this culture reach eight millimeters in diameter and fold into fairly bright and large brushes or panicles, painted in light yellow tones with a pleasant lemon tint. It should be noted that this plant is an excellent honey plant. The flowering of Mahonia holly occurs in April or May, and the fruits ripen in August and September.
The fruits are oblong-elliptical berries, the width of which can reach eight millimeters, and the length is ten millimeters. They are usually bluish-black and covered with a small fluff, as well as an abundant bluish bloom. Inside each berry there are from two to eight oblong seeds, the length of which reaches 4.5 mm. And the taste of these fruits is sweet and sour. After ripening, they are able to remain on the bushes for up to five months, and at the same time neither their useful properties nor their taste will deteriorate. It is noteworthy that one kilogram of such fruits has about five thousand berries.
Where grows
The natural habitat of this culture is the western states of the United States, ranging from California to British Columbia. Quite often, the planting of this plant can be seen in the resorts of the popular Caucasian Mineral Waters. In fact, it can easily grow up to Arkhangelsk, however, in northern latitudes, before frosts, its roots must be covered. By the way, even in the north, this beauty continues to remain evergreen.
Application
Most often, the fruits of Mahonia holly are eaten fresh or dried. They make excellent compotes, and they are also used for tinting wines and in the confectionery industry. And if you sprinkle the berries with sugar, they will stand in this form until spring (in glass containers).
The systematic use of these berries helps to significantly improve the composition of the blood and the work of the entire gastrointestinal tract. They are endowed with an excellent choleretic effect and perfectly cope with hemorrhoids, diverticulosis, various ailments of the gallbladder and constipation. And the bark of the plant is very rich in all kinds of biologically active components that are actively used in homeopathy to heal scaly and dry skin ailments, including psoriasis. If you prepare decoctions or infusions from the bark, they will become a real salvation for irritable intestines.
This beauty has found its application in gardening, because it is an excellent decorative culture. Among other things, it is incredibly gas and smoke resistant, which is very valuable for large metropolitan areas.
Contraindications
Berries should not be eaten with duodenal ulcers, hyperacid gastritis and chronic diarrhea, since their use can significantly aggravate an already unpleasant condition. And preparations based on these fruits should in no case be used by expectant mothers. In addition, in some people, these berries can cause diarrhea and bouts of nausea, so do not discount individual intolerance.
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