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Vegetative
-Leaves 
Flower
-Androecium
-Gynoecium
-Fruit

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Members of the Berberidaceae are herbs or shrubs, but only shrubby species are found in northern Utah. The stems sometimes have scattered vascular bundles and the wood is generally very yellow because of the presence of berberine, an isoquinoline alkaloid.  

The leaves are usually alternate, and may be simple or compound. They are often spiny, and sometimes completely reduced to spines.  Stipules are usually lacking.

The flowers are usually radially symmetric, bisexual, and have a perianth that is often 3-merous. Both the calyx and the corolla are made up of separate parts. There are 4 or 6 sepals, 4 or 6 outer petals, and often 6 showy, nectar-producing inner petals.  

The androecium consists of 4 stamens with anther sacs that open by flaps that are hinged at the top.  Pollen grains are tricolpate, or a modification thereof.

The gynoecium consists of a single, simple carpel that has a superior ovary and basal to parietal placentation.  There are usually many ovules. The fruit is a berry.  

The species that is native to northern Utah is known either as Berberis repens or Mahonia repens. Which is used depends on whether one considers having pinnately compound, rather than simple, leaves merits recognition of a separate genus.  If the answer is yes, plants with compound leaves are called Mahonia. 

Caulophyllum thalictroides

Achlys triphylla

Berberis fremontii

Berberis fremontii

Berberis higginsae


Podophyllum peltatum