15 results about "Mahonia" patented technology

Mahonia is a genus of approximately 70 species of evergreen shrubs and rarely small trees in the family Berberidaceae, native to eastern Asia, the Himalaya, North and Central America. They are closely related to the genus Berberis and botanists disagree on whether to recognize a separate Mahonia. Some authorities argue Mahonia should be included in Berberis because several species in both genera are able to hybridize, and because when the two genera are looked at as a whole, no consistent morphological separation exists except simple versus compound leaves. However, recent DNA-based phylogenetic studies support recognition of Mahonia, though after the removal of several species into the newly-described genera Alloberberis (formerly Mahonia section Horridae) and Moranothamnus (formerly Mahonia claireae). Mahonia species typically have large, pinnate leaves 10–50 cm (3.9–19.7 in) long with five to 15 leaflets, and flowers in racemes which are 5–20 cm (2.0–7.9 in) long.