Berberis extensiflora (Ahrendt) Bh.Adhikari & Harber, stat. et comb. nov.

– Berberis concinna var. extensiflora Ahrendt, J. Linn. Soc. Bot. 57: 119 (1961).

– Type: Nepal, Larjung, Kaligandaki, 17 x 1954, Stainton, Sykes & Williams 8175 (holotype BM! [BM 000551279]; isotype image A! [00969914], E! [E00465285]). Figure 2.

Shrub, to 2 m tall. Stems and branches usually sulcate, glabrous, mature stems reddish brown, sparsely verruculose. Spines usually 3-fid, pale reddish or yellowish brown, terete, sometimes abaxially sulcate basally, strong, central spine 0.8–1.5 cm long, lateral spines 0.5–1.2 cm long. Leaves deciduous, slightly coriaceous. Petiole absent or to c. 2 mm. Leaf blade abaxially slightly glaucous, densely papillose, adaxially dull green, obovate, sometimes obovate-elliptic or elliptic 1–3 × 0.5–1.5 cm, base cuneate, apex obtuse, sometimes acute, mucronate, margin with 1–3 widely separated spinose teeth on each side, venation reticulate, inconspicuous abaxially (conspicuous when dry), conspicuous adaxially. Inflorescence 3–4 cm long, usually an umbel of 2 or 3 flowers, rarely a solitary flower subtended by bracts. Flowers 1.5–2.5 cm in diameter. Peduncle 1.5–3 cm long, red; pedicel 1–2 cm long, glabrous, red, slightly swollen at the base of fruit. Bracts narrowly elliptic, 6–9 × 2–3.5 mm, in solitary flowers present near the middle of pedicels; bracteoles triangular or triangular ovate, 3.5–4.2 × 2 mm. Sepals yellow, in 3 whorls, outer sepals ovate sometimes with reddish tinge, 6–8 × 4–5.2 mm, median sepals elliptic or elliptic-ovate 7.5–9 × 5–5.5 mm, inner sepals elliptic 8–10 × 5.5–6 mm. Petals yellow, obovate or broadly obovate, 5–7 × 4.5–7 mm, base cuneate, apex obtuse, entire or slightly crenate, venation distinct, with 1 pair of lateral veins; glands orbicular or obovate orbicular, c. 0.8 mm in diameter. Stamens 3.5–4 mm long, anther connective truncate or slightly apiculate. Pistil 3.5 mm long; ovules (6–)10–13. Berries red, oblong or ovoid, 12–15 × 6–8 mm; style deciduous or persistent.

Distribution. Berberis extensiflora has been collected in central and western Nepal.

Habitat and ecology. Berberis extensiflora is found among slash vegetation, in open areas on dry slopes, and in Rhododendron forests at 3150–3350 m. It has been collected in flower from June to August and in fruit in October.

Additional specimens examined: Berberis extensiflora

NEPAL. Lamjung district: Rambrong, Lamjung Himal, 3330 m, 27 vi 1954, Stainton, Sykes & Williams 5964 (BM [BM000897088], E [E00663691]); Rambrong, Lamjung Himal, 3330 m, 16 vii 1954, Stainton, Sykes & Williams 6385 (BM [BM000897132], E [E00663692]); Rambrong, Lamjung Himal, 3330 m, 27 x 1954, Stainton, Sykes & Williams 9352 (BM [BM000897118], E [E00663694]). Manang district: Bimtang-Gho, 3280 m, 14 viii 2008, Ikeda et al. Manaslu 08 20812277 (E [E00667594], KATH). Myagdi district: Ghorepani, Poon hill, 28.3997°N, 83.6897°E, 3150 m, 4 x 2006, Pendry, Milne & Adhikari EA 104 (E [E00668356], KATH); Ghorepani, Poon hill, 28.3995°N, 83.6913°E, 3120 m, Pendry, Milne & Adhikari EA 105 (E [E00668355], KATH); West of Lumsum, 3350 m, 22 x 1954, Stainton, Sykes & Williams 9112 (BM [BM000897078], E [E00663693]).

CULTIVATED. Dawyck Botanic Garden, Stobo, Scotland, from Pendry, Milne & Adhikari EA 104; Exbury Gardens, Hampshire, and Foster Clough, Mytholmroyd, West Yorkshire, UK, collected from Sine coll. s.n., Nepal Rolwaling Himal, Bagmail Pradesh, Autumn 2004.