Taxon Details

Berberis pinnata ssp. insularis

island barberry

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Taxon Summary:

Berberis pinnata ssp. insularis, commonly known as island barberry, is a perennial evergreen shrub in the Berberidaceae that is found only in California. It occurs within Chaparral, Cismontane woodland, Closed-cone coniferous forest, and Coastal scrub, growing at elevations from 75 to 400 meters. Berberis pinnata ssp. insularis is ranked 1B.2, Plants Rare, Threatened or Endangered in California and Elsewhere; Moderately threatened in California.

Classification

Scientific Name: Berberis pinnata Lag. ssp. insularis Munz
Common Name: island barberry
Family:	Berberidaceae
Element Code:	PDBER060B2
USDA Plants Symbol:
Synonyms/Other Names: Mahonia pinnata (Lag.) Fedde ssp. insularis (Munz) Roof
Name Status:	JEF, FNA, POWO, IPNI, Tropicos

Conservation Status

CA Rare Plant Rank:	1B.2
Fed List:	FE (1997-07-31)
State List:	CE (1979-11-01)
Global Rank:	G5T1
State Rank:	S1
Other Status:	SB_SBBG
CRPR Changes:
Add Date:	1980-01-01
Date Edited:	2025-10-29

Ecology and Life History

Lifeform: perennial evergreen shrub

Blooming Period: Feb-May

Elevation:
75 - 400 meters
245 - 1310 feet

General Habitats:

Closed-cone coniferous forest
Chaparral
Cismontane woodland
Coastal scrub

Microhabitat Details:

Microhabitat:

Rocky

Notes

Notes: Known from fewer than 10 occurrences. Believed to be extirpated from ANA Isl. after surveys in 1994. Last seen on SRO Isl. in 1930, despite recent surveys. Threatened by feral herbivores. See Changing Seasons 1(3):14 (1981) for revised nomenclature.
Threats:
Taxonomy:

Threat List Data from the CNDDB

THREAT LIST:
Threat List Total:	1
	Total EOs	% of EOs
EOs with Threat Listed:	2	25 %
Erosion/runoff	2	25%

Occurrence Data from the CNDDB

Element Occurrence Ranks:
Total Occurrences:					8
A	B	C	D	X	U
0	3	1	0	2	2

Occurrence Status:
Historical >20 Years	4
Recent <=20 Years	4

Presence:
Presumed Extant	6
Possibly Extirpated	1
Presumed Extirpated	1

Location

California Endemic:

California Island:

States: Name (Code)
California (CA)

California Counties and Islands: Name (Code)
Santa Barbara (SBA), Ventura (VEN)

Quads: Name (Quad Code)
Anacapa Island (3311983)*, Santa Cruz Island A (3311987), Santa Cruz Island B (3311986), Santa Rosa Island North (3312081)

Notes:

Definitions of codes following a county and/or quad:
*		Presumed extirpated
(?)		Occurrence confirmed, but possibly extirpated
Quad and county data is imported from the CNDDB. Species may be present in other areas where conditions are favorable. These data should NOT be substituted for pre-project review or for on-site surveys.

Regional Map

Map

Presumed Extant

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CNPS Rare Plant Inventory