Several smooth stems with large, ovate, long-stalked leaves mostly near base and loose clusters of purple or blue flowers on branches at top (held on a petiole). The inflorescence is a panicle of flowers on individual pedicels.
Fun facts:
• Native Americans made a preparation of the roots to treat burns and stomach aches.
• Likes dry, shaded areas
• Seeds stick to socks as you walk by
Leaves range from about 4cm to 10cm and get smaller as you move down the branch.
Growing along trail, hairy stem and leaves, serrated leaves, five petals
Compound leaf arrangement opposite
Anthocyanins; basal leaves, weak stems, prostrate to ascending flower stalks; lightly covered with soft to shaggy hair; leaves heart-shaped shallow lobes with toothed margins.
Fun facts:
• One of first flowers to bloom in late winter
Several smooth stems with large, ovate, long-stalked leaves mostly near base and loose clusters of purple or blue flowers on branches at top (held on a petiole). The inflorescence is a panicle of flowers on individual pedicels.
Fun facts:
• Native Americans made a preparation of the roots to treat burns and stomach aches.
• Likes dry, shaded areas
• Seeds stick to socks as you walk by
The distinct flower petal and leaf arrangement were used in identification.
Vegetative form; leaves dissected into toothed leaflets. Purple spotting on stem. Adjacent to running path (disturbed habitat), not aqueous or riparian, but seasonally flooded.
Leaves alternate, simple, deciduous; generally elliptical or oblong, 2–5 inches; 5-petaled flowers are white or whitish-green, pendulous. The twig is slender, green turning to reddish brown, pith chambered, conspicuous orange lenticles.
Fun facts:
• Indigenous peoples make tea of the bark, and chew its twigs to use as a mild anesthetic and aphrodisiac.
• Good wood for arrows, bows, small wooden tools
• Edible berries
• only species in the genus Oemeria
• Flowers smell like cat pee
Leaves smooth-edged + lance-shaped; yellow-green flowers produced in small umbels.
Fun facts:
• Often mistaken with bay laurel
• Hosts pathogen that causes sudden oak death
• Related to avocados (same family)
• A tea was made from the leaves by indigenous peoples to treat stomach aches, colds, sore throats, and to clear up mucus in the lungs
• According to a modern Miwok recipe for acorn soup, "it is essential that you add a generous amount of California laurel" when storing acorns to dry, to keep insects away from the acorns.
Pale brown lenticels; palmate leaves with 5 lobes; flowers on dangling racemes
Fun facts:
• "sanguineum" means blood-red
• Drought-tolerant
• Blooms in early spring
• Tart berries but can be suitable for jam, etc.
• Can host white pine blister rust
• Hardy to -4F
Gravel bar at margin of river. Irish Bend County Park.