Mahonia fortunei

Species: Mahonia fortunei 

English Name:  Chinese Mahonia

Chinese Name: 十大功勞

Family: Berberidaceae

Description:

Shrubs, 0.5-2(-4) m tall. Leaves abaxially pale yellowish green, occasionally slightly glaucous, adaxially dull to deep green, obovate to obovate-elliptic, 10-28 × 8-18 cm; leaflets 2-5 pairs, lowest pair similar to others, 2-9 cm above base of petiole, abaxial veins branched, raised, adaxial veins indistinct; rachis 1-2 mm in diam.; internodes 1.5-4 cm, slightly decreasing in length apically; leaflets sessile or subsessile, narrowly lanceolate to narrowly elliptic, 4.5-14 × 0.9-2.5 cm, base cuneate, margin with 5-10 spinose teeth on each side, apex acute. Inflorescence 4-10-fascicled racemes, 3-7 cm; bracts of inflorescence lanceolate to triangular-ovate, 5-20 × 3-5 mm. Pedicel 2-2.5 mm; floral bracts ovate, 1.5-2.5 × 1-1.2 mm, apically acute. Sepals yellow; outer sepals ovate to triangular-ovate, 1.5-3 × ca. 1.5 mm; median sepals oblong-elliptic, 3.8-5 × 2-3 mm; inner sepals oblong-elliptic, 4-5.5 × 2.1-2.5 mm. Petals yellow, oblong, 3.5-4 × 1.5-2 mm, base with distinct glands, apex emarginate, lobes acute. Stamens 2-2.5 mm; anther connective not prolonged, truncate. Ovary 1.1-2 mm; ovules 2; style absent. Berry purplish blue, pruinose, globose, 4-6 mm in diam. Fl. Jun-Sep, fr. Sep-Nov. 2n = 28*.

Photos used under a Creative Commons license

References:

Wu ZY, Raven PH, Hong DY (eds) (2011) Flora of China. Vol. 19 (Cucurbitaceae through Valerianaceae, with Annonaceae and Berberidaceae). Science Press, Beijing, and Missouri Bot Garden Press, St. Louis