Mahonia nepalensis DC. ex Dippel

 Mahonia nepalensis DC. ex Dippel, Handb. Laubholzk. 3: 112 (1893).

Mahonia nepalensis DC. ex Dippel; Photos Vu Dinh An

Vietnamese name: 

Hoàng liên gai nepal, Mã hồ nepal

Chinese name: 

English name: 

Nepal Mahonia

Latin name: 

Mahonia nepalensis DC. ex DippelFamily: Berberidaceae

Synonym name:

Berberis nepalensis Spreng.

Description: 

Shrubs or small trees, profusely branched, about 1-4 m tall. Bark soft corky, Stem, brown, glabrous, branchlets leafy. Leaves imparipinnate, exstipulate, about 30-45 x 12 cm long, rachis articulated at each leaflet node, about 2-4 mm thick, 25-40 cm long, lateral leaflets 6-12 pairs, lower leaflets smallest, lanceolate-ovate to oblong, about 5-11 x 2-4.5 cm across, lower leaflets oblong-quadrate, lowest leaflet about 0.5-1.5 cm from the base, base oblique, broadly cuneate, margins serrate-dentate with 5-11 small spines, apex acuminate with spinose tip, green, glabrous shining above, paler dull beneath, chartaceous to coriaceous, lateral veins 4-7 on either side of the midrib, prominent both above and beneath, sessile. Inflorescence racemose, fascicled 4-12, each from a axil of a bract, axillary, terminal, densely flowered, rachis 2.5-4 mm thick, about 8-25 cm long, bracts ovate-lanceolate to oblong, concave, hyaline, caducous, 3-6 x 1.5-3 cm across. Flowers bisexual, yellow, slightly fragrant, actinomorphic, about 6-10 mm across, pedicels about 4-10 mm long, bracts lanceolate, about 3-5 mm long, sepals 9, in 3 series, outer sepals smallest and inner series sepals largest, outer series sepals, triangular ovate, apex acute, about 3-3.5 x 1-2.5 mm long, median sepals oblong-ovate, apex obtuse 6 x 3 mm across, inner series sepals oblong-elliptic, 7 x 3.5 mm across, petals oblong-elliptic, bright yellow, apex emarginated with obtuse lobes, about 4.5-6 x 2.5-3.5 mm across. Stamens 6, about 3.5-6 mm long, apiculate, anthers connectives prolonged, ovary superior, ellipsoid, about 3.5-4 mm long, ovules 4-6, style about 0.5-1.5 mm long, stigma sessile, capitate. Fruits are berries, obovoid to subglobose, pruinose, purplish black when ripe, about 9-12 x 5-7 mm across, stylose, seeds with conspicuous endosperm.

Flower and fruid season: 

I-III; 4-5

Distribution: 

This species is in Vietnam. In VietNam, it found in Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Ha Giang, Cao Bang, Bac Can and Lang bian mountain - Da Lat (Lam Dong)

Ecological: 

Dense wet oak and rhododendron forests to 2900 m.

Cultivation details:

An easily grown plant, it thrives in any good garden soil. Grows well in heavy clay soils. Prefers a semi-shaded woodland position in a damp slightly acid to neutral humus rich soil[200]. Requires a position sheltered from cold or strong winds. The plant is slightly tender in Britain though it does well in Cornwall[59]. It under performs in areas where temperatures regularly fall below -10°C. The young growth in spring can be damaged by late frosts. Hybridizes freely with other members of this genus. The flowers have a delicate sweet fragrance. At least one named variety has been developed for its ornamental value. 'Maharajah' appears to be hardier than the type specie. Closely allied to M. acanthifoli (which is quoted as a synonym of this species in some books). The differences stated between the two species do not hold true in the wild but in cultivation M. acanthifolia has leaflets with a dull surface, flowers in the autumn and is hardier than many of the spring flowering introductions of M. nepaulensis. Resistant to honey fungus.

Conservation Status:

IUCN Red List of Threatened Plants Status

Chemical:

From the wood of Mahonia nepalensis DC. 1821, two bisbenzylisoquinolines homoaromoline and isotetrandrine were isolated

Uses: 

The berberin extract is used as a medicine for treating intestinal diseases. The whole tree cures tuberculosis, fever, back pain, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia. Coordinate with other medicines to treat atopic dermatitis, diarrhea diarrhea, hepatitis, jaundice, eye pain. In India, fruit is used to treat dysentery, indigestion.

Reference: 

- theplantlist.org

- efloras.org

- ipni.org

- pfaf.org

- Nguyen Thi Mai, Tran Anh Tuan, Hoang Thanh Huong, Chau Van Minh, Ninh Khac Ban, and Phan Van Kiem. Bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloids from Mahonia nepalensis; Journal of Chemistry, Vol. 47 (3), P. 368 - 373, 2009

- indiabiodiversity.org