Ahrendt's (l.c. 83) key separates it out as fruit 12 mm long and style 0.5 mm long (although fruit not described in the description). However, it resembles
Berberis lyceum in stem and to some extent in leaf characters, but with only 1-2 ovules, inflorescence racemose-paniculate and berries red (according to Ahrendt's key).
Another species, Berberis afghanica Schneid. (based on Griffith 121 from Afghanistan), with similar stem and (smaller) leaves, but subfascicled racemes, only 1-2 cm long, and ovules 3, sessile, may also be found within our area on the Pak-Afghan border.