Berberis fortunei (PROSEA)

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Plant Resources of South-East Asia Introduction

List of species

Berberis fortunei Lindley

Family: Berberidaceae

Distribution

Native of China. Cultivated in western Java.

Uses

Root and stem produce a dye which was used for dyeing cotton yellow or brown, e.g. for batik cloth in Indonesia. It is also used as a hedge plant.

Observations

A usually much-branched shrub, up to 2 m tall. The colouring substance is possibly berberine, just as in other Berberis species. This species is well-established in mountainous areas in Java at altitudes of about 1000 m.

Selected sources

7, 12, 22, 43.