SHRUBS 



31 



Fine wine is made from the berries. When the berries are 

 ripe, they are gathered and dried in the sun, then put away for 

 winter pies. Dried berries are boiled in sugar when making pies. 

 Small flowers are beaten in batter for pancakes or muffins. The 

 flowers heads are dipped in a batter and quickly fried, making a 

 delicious fritter. 



Song birds, bandtailed pigeons and grouse are fond of the ber- 

 ries. Among the animals; rabbits, squirrels, chipmunks, mice, 

 and rats eat the fruit and bark; deer eat the foliage. The white 

 wood is used for skewers and pegs. A decoction of the leaves is 

 supposed to keep caterpillars from eating plants. 



S-33. SNOWBERRY, 

 WAXBERRY, or INDIAN 

 CURRANT, Symphoricar - 

 pos sp. Erect shrubs of 

 low or medium height, 

 with slender branches, 

 sometimes prostrate and 

 sometimes spreading by 

 suckers; leaves opposite, 

 round or oval; white or 

 rosy flowers appear in 

 terminal or axillary clus- 

 ters; round, waxy-white 

 berries. 



Saponin, a poisonous 

 drug, is contained in the 

 leaves only. Indians made 

 a decoct ion for colds and 

 stomach-ache by pounding 

 and steeping the roots. 

 The fruits act as an em- 

 etic and cathartic (strong 

 laxative). As a honey 

 plant, it is fairly important, producing a white honey. 



Snowberries are highly regarded as ornamental shrubs due to 

 the striking-looking bunches of fruit and lovely leaves. It is an 

 important wild-life food, as the berries remain on the bushes 

 most of the year. Birds use the bushes as protective shelter. 



Most Hab. 



Most States 

 W. Can. 



