*Berberis koreana Palibin. KOREAN BARBERRY. New York: Goat Island, base of gorge in Luna Island area, several shrubs, Douglas Goldman, specimen at Bailey Hortoreum.

Not reported for the Niagara Frontier region by Zander and Pierce (1979) , for New York State by Mitchell and Tucker (1997), or Ontario by Morton and Venn (1990).

*Berberis thunbergii D.C. JAPANESE BARBERRY. In 1909 the Superintendent planted this horticultural species on Luna Island and elsewhere in the Niagara Reservation (Goat Island, etc.) as a substitute for an iron railing at the river margin - this shrub keeping people away from the dangerous banks by reason of its thorns, and stabilizing the bank (26 Ann Rep Comm, 1926). "Dufferin Islands, [Niagara] Glen," sight records, Yaki (1970).  DeVeaux College woods, Eckel (1986).

New York: Green Island, "planted on the eastern margins," Eckel 96122609 (BUF); Luna Island, Eckel, May 30, 1988 (BUF); Lewiston, Scovell's Knoll, back of elevated knoll close to the Niagara River, dense, rich woods: low area, moist, facing the river. Eckel & Eckel 870650 (BUF); weedy crest of the gorge by Devil's Hole, escape, Eckel, Aug. 19, 1987 (BUF); DeVeaux College Woods behind Whirlpool Park. Calcareous soils. Mature Quercus, Fagus, Acer& Fraxinus woodland. Single shrub. P. M. Eckel 1453185 May 24, 1985.

 

Ontario: Dufferin Islands, along Niagara River Parkway,on Niagara River Parkway, Eckel May 25, 1985 (BUF); base of gorge,  single shrub in shaded area just N of the Lower Arch Bridg by the Gorge Route elevator. Eckel & Zander, Aug. 22, 1987 (BUF); Niagara Glen, base of the Niagara River gorge. Extensive horticulture plantings above on both sides of the river. Wooded, protected, undisturbed cove forest. P. M. Eckel 89111405 June 3, 1988 (BUF); Navy Island, a few individuals in west side woods margin, with Lonicera morrowii, Eckel, May 13, 1998 (BUF).  

 

*Berberis vulgaris L. EUROPEAN BARBERRY, BARBERRY. .  On Goat Island, American side, a little above the Spring & between the road & the river, noticed one thrifty bush of Berberis vulgaris. It was never planted there, Sept. 28, 1870.  Noticed a barberry bush, wild, in fruit, between Table Rock & the first island above. The one on Goat Island has not flowered this year, Sept. 7, 1871.  Berberis vulgaris is naturalized on Goat Island, Nov. 10, 1874 (Clinton Journal). Ontario: "Abundant on Clark's and other islands in the Niagara River. (Burgess.)" Macoun (1886).  "Lewiston," Field Club, 1889. ).  "Lewiston. The Berberis vulgaris was in full fruit and presented a most beautiful appearance," Field Club, 1892.  "Niagara Gorge," both sides, Field Club, 1894. Ontario: Niagara Falls, J. A. Morton, July 10, 1890, U. of Western Ont; Niagara Falls, Whirlpool, F. W. Johnson, May 30, 1916 (BUF); Queenston, Wm. Scott, May 28, 1898 (TRT); Queenston Heights, J. Macoun, July 6, 1901 (CAN); below Brock's Monument, L. A. Feaver, Oct. 7, 1948, McMasters, Heimburger (1955). "Rare. Goat Island, Niagara Falls," Day (1882). "Goat Island, near Lewiston," Day (1888). Ontario, Queen Victoria Park, "common on Dufferin Islands," Panton (1890). Ontario, Niagara Parks System, Cameron (1895). Ontario: above Niagara Glen," Zenkert (1934). "Isolated specimens occur long the top of the Gorge and in the thickets of the Park. Growth of this plant has been discouraged, because it is the alternate host for the fungus, Puccinia graminis, which causes Wheat Rust," Hamilton (1943). "Dufferin Islands,  [Niagara] Glen," sight records, Yaki (1970).

 

New York: Lewiston, May 25, 1889 (BUF); Goat Island, George W. Clinton, Sept.  28, 1870 (BUF); Goat Island, Edward C. Townsend, May 22, 1896 (BUF); along dolomite lip of the gorge between Lower Arch RR Bridge and Whirlpool State Park,  , along dolomite lip of gorge, with ornamentals and lawns. P.M. Eckel 753185 May 25, 1985 (BUF); Goat Island, on the American Channel by Niagara Falls, northeastern thickets full of exotic vegetation, disturbed, river's edge. Eckel, May 26, 1988 (BUF); Lewiston. Bluffs of the Niagara River gorge overlooking the river and Queenston at its N terminus beside Robt Moses Pkwy. Escarp. top, dense weedy shrubs, Lonicera tartarica, Ligustrum vulgari. P. M. Eckel s.n. June 19, 2001 (BUF).

.

 

Ontario: Chippewa, Chamot, Aug. 9, 1888 (BUF); Escaped rocky banks, Whirlpool woods. Frank W. Johnson 464 May 30, 1916 (BUF); Base of gorge of the Niagara River, water's edge, Whirlpool Rapids Gorge, basin just up-river from Whirlpool Basin. Edge of lower forest, single shrub. P.M.Eckel 871212 Aug. 30, 1987 (BUF); Niagara on the Lake 2.5 miles N. of Queenston, just off Niagara Parkway, shrubby wooded area, kept natural. P.M. Eckel June 10, 1984 (BUF); Gorge of the Niagara River, north shore Whirlpool Basin. Wet area. R. H. Zander & P. M. Eckel 880135 Aug. 30, 1987 (BUF).

 

Two specimens at BUF indicate the presence of this shrub in the vicinity (Ontario) associated with the Niagara Escarpment: Niagara St. Catharines. DeCew Falls (Power Glen).  Forming thickets below Niagara Escarpment. Charles A. Zenkert May 30, 1931 (BUF); St. Catharines Mouth of DeCew gorge, thickets along creek below Niagara escarpment. S.N. May 30, 1931 (BUF).

 

Not reported as rare in the Niagara Frontier region by Zander and Pierce (1979).

 

 

Return to Catalogue