42 Other Wild Berries. 
of plant and character of fruit. The fruit of two species is red- 
dish, but insipid. Other species (V. ovatum, &c.) 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 re- 
quirements 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. 
Other Berries-—There are many small, wild fruits, com- 
monly 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” (Arctostaphylos manzanita), the “little 
apple” of the Spaniard, bears a rather dry but sub-acid fruit. 
The “bear berry” (Arctostaphylos uvaursi) is esteemed by 
Indians both as food and medicine. 
The “western buffalo berry” has small acid edible fruits. 
The “salal” (two species of Gaultheria), small fruit, either red 
or purple, is also a favorite of the aborigines. 
Of “barberries’’ we have three species of berberis. One, 
aquifolium, is called the “false 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 Lenya amarilla of the 
Spanish-Californias. 
Our “service berry” (Amelanchicr alnifolia) is from a quarter 
to a third of an inch in diameter and of a purple color. 
The “lemon berry” is a fruit of Rhus integrifolia, and is 
coated with an acid exudation which is said to dissolve in water 
and make a pleasant drink. The fruit of Rhus tri-lobata is said 
to have both a sweet and an acid coating. 
The berries of the “toyon” or “tollon” (Heteromeles arbuti- 
folia), or “California holly,” are said to be eaten by Indians, but 
they serve the white people a better purpose in Christmas dcora- 
tions. 
_ The “jujube” of commerce (Zizyphus jujuba) has a local rel- 
ative in Zizyphus parryi, which is, however, dry and mealy, 
rather than juicy. 
_The “beach strawberry” is the fruit of Mesembrianthemum 
equilaterale, a relative of the ice-plant. The good-sized fruit is 
