CALIFORNIA WILD BERRIES 39 



however, more agreeable, and is esteemed for jellies, etc., by dwellers 

 in its region, which is the mountain region of the extreme north of 

 the State. We also have a species (bracteosum) which has something 

 of the black currant flavor and a fair-sized fruit, black with whitish 

 bloom, and very sweet. 



There are also several species of Ribes which are classed with the 

 gooseberries, but only three bear edible fruit. One of these (Ribes 

 divaricatum) is peculiar to this coast; another (Ribes oxyacanthoides) 

 occurs at an elevation in the Sierra Nevada and thence extends east- 

 ward beyond the Rocky Mountains. The berries are small to medium, 

 of pleasant flavor, and well armed with spines. Another species (Ribes 

 leptanthum), common in San Luis Obispo and Kern counties, resembles 

 the flavor of the cultivated gooseberry, and is free from spines. 



Cranberries and Huckleberries (Vaccinium sp.). We have sev- 

 eral species belonging to the same botanical genus as the Eastern 

 cranberry, but quite different from it both in growth of the plant and 

 character of fruit. The fruit of two species is reddish, but insipid. 

 Other species (V . ovatum, etc.} have dark blue or purple fruit. Some 

 of these are locally esteemed, and the argument drawn from them is 

 that the cranberry of commerce would succeed. It should be stated, 

 however, that the situations in which these plants thrive are not at 

 all according to the requirements of the bog cranberry. A huckleberry 

 (Vaccinium ovatum) is largely gathered in the redwood region of 

 Northern California, for canning and pie-making. The berries are 

 juicy and delicious, and the preserved fruit has a very agreeable flavor. 

 In one year as many as two thousand boxes were profitably gathered 

 on the hills of western Sonoma county. 



Other Berries. There are many small, wild fruits commonly 

 designated as berries, which are of considerable botanical interest. 

 The fruit, too, may be said to be edible, judging by the taste of Indians, 

 birds, and wild beasts, but not likely to be much more than ornamental 

 in the eyes of white people. They may be briefly enumerated: 



The "manzanita" (various species of Arctostaphylos, especially A. 

 manzanita) the "little apple" of the Spaniards, bears a rather dry but 

 sub-acid fruit. 



The "bear berry" (Arctostaphylos uvaursi) is esteemed by the 

 Indians both as food and medicine. 



"The western buffalo berry" (Shepherdia argentia) has small acid 

 edible fruits. 



The "salal" (Gaultheria shallon), small fruit, either red or purple, 

 is also a favorite of the aborigines. 



Of "barberries" we have three species of Berberis. One, aqui- 

 folium, is called the "Oregon grape," chiefly notable for its handsome 

 bloom, which has been chosen the State flower of Oregon. The fruit 

 is dark blue and the root is said to be a febrifuge. Another species 

 (nervosa) has a larger fruit which is esteemed in cookery; and a 

 third species (pinnata) bears a small, pleasant-flavored fruit. It is 

 the Lena amarilla of the Spanish Californians. 



Our "service berry" (Amelanchier alnifolia) is from a quarter to 

 a third of an inch in diameter and of a purple color. 



