[Illustration: Berberis trifoliata
Berberis haematocarpa]
Common names: ALGERITA, BARBERRY, HOLLYGRAPE
Arizona desert: (_Berberis haematocarpa_). Yellow. February-April.
California desert: (_Berberis fremonti_). Yellow. May-July.
Texas desert. (_Berberis trifoliolata_). Yellow. Spring.
Barberry family. Size: Shrubs, 3 to 8 feet.
The pendant clusters of golden blossoms are particularly noticeable
because of their delightful fragrance, and the small purple berries are
juicy and of pleasant flavor. They make excellent jelly and are readily
eaten by birds and some of the small mammals. Due to the holly-like
leaves and the fragrant blossoms and fruits, the plants would make
attractive ornamentals for landscape and decorative plantings were it
not for the fact that they are secondary hosts for the black stem rust
of the cereals, hence cannot be used in communities where grains are
grown. Indians use the root as a tonic, and obtain from it a brilliant
yellow dye.
Some botanists prefer to use the generic name _Mahonia_ or _Odostemon_
for this group of plants.