SHRUBS 



27 



FRUIT 



blue or lavender, borne on plumy spikes and usually giving off a 

 spicy odor; commonest on open slopes where there is good drain- 

 age. It gives fine protection from erosion and is good in gardens. 



The Indians used the seed as food and the blossoms as a fine 

 lather when rubbed briskly on the skin. The leaves are suitable 

 for use as a tobacco; bark and roots are used as an astringent and 

 tonic. The red roots also yield a red dye. 



The plant has medicinal properties serviceable today. One va- 

 riety is beneficial as a blood coagulant, also for coughing and ton- 

 silitis, and as a stimulant tonic for mucous membranes. It over- 

 comes mal-assimilation of food, and influences beneficially acute 

 inflammation of the liver and spleen. 



S-25. CALIFORNIA FREMON- 

 TIA, Fremontia californica; Ster- 

 culia Fam. Also called Flannel 

 Bush. A scraggly-growing shrub 

 6-15' high on slopes from 1500 to 

 5500' altitude. Leaves have a 

 brown soft fuzz underneath; flow- 

 ers are a lovely yellow, borne 

 all along the branches, making an 

 extremely beautiful sight in early 

 spring; the 4-5 celled capsule has 

 grayish-brown seeds. Local peo- 

 ple call it "Slippery Elm", as the inner bark is quite mucilaginous 



when wet. 



The inner bark is used as a demul- 

 cent for poultices (a soothing agent for 

 raw membranes). Cattle will browse 

 the twigs, which are very nutritious. 



S-26. BEARBERRY, Arctostaphy - 

 los uva-ursi; Heath Fam. Alow grow- 

 shrub, found in large mats, usually be- 

 tween 3000' to 9000' altitudes; white, 

 urn-shaped flowers; red berries. 



Indians used the leaves in their 

 smoking tobacco and called it Kinnikin- 

 nick» Dry leaves in the fall are astrin- 

 gent, and picked for a tonic, also as a 



Pin-Jun. 



MCF 



CCF 



Chap. 



Calif. 



W 



Most Hab. 



Most States 



