Berberis chochocoSchlechtendal, Diederich Franz Leonhard von. Botanische Zeitung (Berlin) 12: 652 652 1854.Freie Universitat Berlin, Type specimens at Herbarium Berolinense, Mahonia chochoco is an evergreen shrub or small tree up to tall, in the genus Berberis, family Berberidaceae. It is native to mountainous regions of northeastern Mexico, in the states of Nuevo León, Veracruz, and San Luis Potosí.Marroqín, J.S. 1972. Berberidáceas de México I. Cuadernoes del Instituto de Investigación Científica de la Universidad Autónoma de Nuevo León 15:1-21.
The evergreen leaflets are oval to oblong, long, shiny with conspicuous venation. Fruits are blue. Wood is yellow and used for dyeing and tanning.Stanley, P.C. 1922. Trees and Shrubs of Mexico. Contributions from the United States National Herbarium 23(2).
Taxonomy The compound leaves place this species in the group sometimes segregated as the genus Mahonia.Flora of North America, vol 3Loconte, H., & J. R. Estes. 1989. Phylogenetic systematics of Berberidaceae and Ranunculales (Magnoliidae). Systematic Botany 14:565-579.Marroquín, Jorge S., & Joseph E. Laferrière. 1997. Transfer of specific and infraspecific taxa from Mahonia to Berberis. Journal of the Arizona-Nevada Academy of Science 30(1):53-55.Laferrière, Joseph E. 1997. Transfer of specific and infraspecific taxa from Mahonia to Berberis. Bot. Zhurn. 82(9):96-99.Marroquin, J. S. 1993. Berberidaceae. Flora de Veracruz 75: 1–16.CONABIO. 2009. Catálogo taxonómico de especies de México. 1. In Capital Nat. México. CONABIO, Mexico City.
One obscure and long overlooked publication created a monospecific genus for this species, calling it Chrysodendron tinctorium. The same publication also erected three varieties based on minor variations in leaf shape.Laferrière, Joseph E. 1995. Proposal to reject the name Chrysodendron tinctorium (Berberidaceae). Taxon 44:634.Terán & Berlandier. 1832. Memorias de la Comisión de Límites. Matamoros.Berlandier, J. L. 1980 Journey to Mexico During the years 1826 to 1834. University of Texas Press, Austin.Laferrière, Joseph E. 1995. Lectotypes of Berberis chochoco and its synonyms. Phytologia 78(3):214-216.
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