Mahonia trifoliolata
Family: Berberidaceae
Plant Description: Evergreen shrub attaining a height of 2 m. with stiff, spiny, holly-like, trifoliate, alternate leaves.
Plant Trivia: Flowers pollinate by utilizing explosive anthers which, when stimulated by buzzing sound, explode covering the pollinator with pollen which will then be carried to the stigma of another flower. Agarito means “little sour” in Spanish. Early Texas pioneers found that the gray stems contained yellow wood, which, along with the root, produced yellow dye. In the 17th century, Nicholas Culper noted that hair washed in lye (sodium hydroxide) made of barberry ashes mixed with water would turn yellow; there have been barberry blonds ever since.
Field Identification: stiff plastic-like leaves with sharp ends; generally low-growing
Occurrence: Chaparral, rocky slopes, thickets, open woodlands from coastal southern Texas northwest and westward into the Trans-Pecos
Bloom Period: February-April
Plant Use: Red berries make excellent jelly. Many birds, such cardinals and mockingbirds, and mammals, such as racoons, opposums, gray foxes, and coyotes, are known to eat the fruit. The leaves are browsed by white-tailed deer. The reddish new leaf growth is tart and tasty and makes a unique garnish for salads.
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