LivingInPatagonia.com

The Michay or Techelia

Darwin’s Barberry (Berberis darwinii), otherwise known as the Michay or Techelia, is a sunny addition to Patagonian spring foliage.

It was discovered by early English adventurers aboard the Atlantic Voyager in the late 1850s. Brought to England by Captain Sir James Ross, the plant was considered of unique and interesting beauty. The cultivation of the original Patagonian plant eventually spread throughout Europe and North America. The Oregon Grape is a decedent of these cuttings of the 19th century.

A hardy evergreen, pinnate-leaved bush that thrives in shaded environments, it is found throughout Chilean and Argentine Patagonia, extending down into the Tierra del Fuego region. The bush, which can reach heights of 8 feet tall, has a yellow-brown bark (a coloring that was used by natives for a dye), dark green leaves accentuated by sharp spurs and a lighter underside, as well as bright yellow, fragrant globes for flowers. The buds develop into miniature-gourd, navy blue berries that are tart when eaten fresh, but are known to make a yummy jelly.