PLANT: Shrubs 1.0-2.5 m tall. LEAVES: trifoliolate, 3-8 cm long; leaflets narrowly lanceolate, attenuate, thick, rigid, 2-6 cm long; veins obscure; teeth of leaflet margin (0-)1-2(-3) pairs, 2.5-7 mm long including spine 1-2 mm long. INFLORESCENCE: racemose, (1-)3-6-flowered, 1.0-2.5(-4) cm long; racemes 1-4 per leaf axil; pseudopedicels 5-8 mm long; bracts 1.0-2.0 mm long; bracteoles 2, opposite, appressed to calyx, or 2-4 mm below it, reddish, keeled, lanceolate, 1 mm long. FLOWERS: sepals 9; outer sepals ovate, obtuse, 2-3 mm long; middle sepals oblanceolate, 4-5 mm long; inner sepals ovate to suborbicular, 5-7 mm long; petals oblanceolate, 3-4 mm long; filaments lacking teeth. FRUITS: red, pruinose, subglobose, 6-7 mm long, 4.5-5.0 mm wide, with persistent stigmas. SEEDS: ellipsoid, shiny, reddish-brown, 3-5 mm long. NOTES: 2 vars. TX to AZ, s to Hgo., Mex. REFERENCES: Laferrière, Joseph E. 2001. Berberidaceae. J. Ariz. - Nev. Acad. Sci. Volume 26(1).