886 Berberis vulgaris L.

This originally Asiatic species includes here some lower taxa, often distinguished as species, for instance B. aetnensis C. Presl, B. hispanica Boiss. & Reut., B. cretica L. and B. crataegina DC. in the mountains of the Mediterranean region and B. orientalis C. K. Schn. in Transcaucasus and Iran. Mapped separately are the closely related B. amurensis Rupr. in E. Asia (var. japonica [Reg.] Rehd. in Japan) and B. zabeliana C. K. Schn. in N. Pakistan etc. For further information see FI. Eur. 1/1964, p. 245, and Meusel et al. 1965, map p. 170. Being a domestic plant, it has been introduced into several other parts of the world, at first Europe, then such as N. America and New Zealand.