plant IDs

[piranha]

	for TNH seen at cimetière notre-dame-des-neiges. probably berberis vulgaris, though i am not 100% certain; there are many, many types of berberis -- most of which i am sure this isn't. i'll ask on UBC's identification forum to see whether anyone wholeheartedly disagrees, or has more knowledge of the genus. maybe jinian knows?
	for jon singer seen on st-denis and elsewhere in planters. definitely verbena bonariensis. found it in montréal's jardin botanique, neatly identified with a plaque so i didn't even have to scour the web.

Comments

[pogodragon.livejournal.com]

Gorgeous pictures - I love the second one, such a fabulous colour. :-)

[jinian.livejournal.com]

Nope, never seen that one. What great berries.

[tnh.livejournal.com]

I'm still inclined to think it's a pyracantha.

[pir-anha.livejournal.com]

the UBC guys are saying berberis.

http://wisplants.uwsp.edu/bigphoto/BERVUL_KSOL.jpg
http://pharm1.pharmazie.uni-greifswald.de/systematik/7_bilder/liebermn/lb-00133.jpg
http://pharm1.pharmazie.uni-greifswald.de/systematik/7_bilder/liebermn/lb-00132.jpg
http://www.zin.ru/Animalia/Coleoptera/images/foto/berberis-vulgaris.jpg
http://www.botanypictures.com/plantimages/berberis%20vulgaris%2004.jpg

i'm not entirely happy with the vulgaris because of the slight pointiness of the berries, but i've now looked at all other berberis it could be, and this is probably as good as it gets. it could be a vulgaris hybrid, berberis hybridizes easily. i found a couple of pointy-berry pictures identified as vulgaris, but not on sites where i'd automatically believe that.

the fruit is edible, but very acidic. loads of medicinal uses; roots/bark/stems also as dye (did you notice a strong yellow when you picked yours?).